Broadchurch/Doctor Who Fanfic

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2023-02-02T10:11:00.073-08:00

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**In progress**

I thought I had lost you Updated 18th October

Rose Tyler works her way through police college after leaving the department store and is sent to the town of Sandbrook, working with a certain DI Alec Hardy. Her mother has moved down to live with her, they have a nice apartment and Jackie works part time as a hairdresser.

Things change between Rose and her boss when Tess is looking for any excuse to have the two of them split up, until her own partner Dave convinces her to get her own back and see if Alec notices. Alec already knows what Tess is up to and gets Rose to go along with pretending they have something going on.

Finished

Can't hide it much longer

Rose Tyler gets a surprise when Pete hires a new head of alien artefacts before he goes back to stop her from falling into the void. On Rose's first day at work, she almost faints to see Jamie Smith, who looks like The Doctor sat at a desk covered in bits of alien 'tech'. On their wedding day, Rose meets another double, Alec Hardy and Jamie gets jealous when he sees them talking.

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I thought I had lost you

2023-02-02T10:10:00.025-08:00

Rose Tyler works her way through police college after leaving her job and is sent to the town of Sandbrook, working with Alec Hardy. Rose is offered a promotion in London but at her leaving party realises she will miss him. When she passes her exam, she goes to work in Broadchurch and a few months later, Alec becomes the new DI. Can they keep their pasts from their new chief?

Chapter 1

When Rose Tyler's place of work is destroyed in an unexplained explosion, she's offered a job in another branch of the same company but she somehow can't settle with the idea that the investigation into the store's destruction doesn't offer any explanations. Her mother tries to get her to forget about it.

"Rose, ya can't do anything about it," Jackie reminded her over a month later. "It was lucky ya couldn't find Wilson and got out the back door before the place went up."

"Yeah, I suppose so?" Rose had to agree with her mother on that. "If I'd stopped to find out what that noise was, I might not have made it?" she shivered at the thought. "Funny thing though, as I was making my way to the exit, I swear those shop dummies started moving."

Jackie remembered her mentioning it before and had laughed at it.

"Rose, it was just the lighting, ya said only some of the lights were on. Ya have to leave it behind sweetheart. If it bothers ya that much, then do something about it," she suggested.

"Such as Mum? I'm in a job I hate, I've no qualifications, what am I supposed to do?" Rose replied, leaning over and flopping over the glass-topped coffee table. "Now I wish I'd taken more notice at school."

"Well you wanted to mess about Madam," Jackie told her. "Look where that ended? Why not enrol in some free evening classes? They run them at the community centre ya know? Ya can do English and maths and maybe have to pay for some of the others but they're not that much, ya get it subsidised."

"Yeah? I supposed I can go and ask about it? I'll call in tomorrow on the way home, I expect they have classes startin' all the time?" Rose agreed.

"Well it's a start," her mother laughed. "Don't let it go to waste, do something with it sweetheart."

So Rose got herself enrolled in classes for maths and English, getting a certificate at the end of it and since she couldn't get the store out of her mind, asked about enrolling at the police academy. The recruitment officer was sympathetic when he asked why Rose wanted to join the police.

"That's very commendable Miss Tyler," Sergeant Baines told her when looking at Rose's application. "So you wanted to know more about the investigation? I remember when it happened, officers were sent from all over London and the building was cordoned off. Still, it was decided it was a gas leak in the end."

"That's just it Sergeant," Rose replied. "Never mind, I don't suppose I can do anything about it now but I'd like to join the police, so the next time something like that happens, I can maybe make a difference."

"I like your enthusiasm Rose," the sergeant smiled. "I think the academy is just what you need."

"So I passed the interview?" Rose sounded surprised. "How long will I have to train for? Do I get an allowance? Only I have to help my mum out."

"Don't worry about that," the sergeant told her. "As to how long you'll be at the academy, well that depends on you. How far do you want to get?"

That got Rose thinking. Did she just want to be in uniform, patrolling the streets of London or did she want to get into the investigation part of policing? She didn't suppose there would be many opportunities unless she studied hard and learned the basics first.

She got herself signed up and waited for the start of the term, being told that her first one was just induction and listening to the tutors giving lectures and taking notes for her first exam to see if she was suitable.

"Well ya have to try," her mother was encouraging her when the time was near for Rose to go off for her first day. "Don't let anything put ya off, stick to it."

So Rose stuck to it, making a few friends and facing comments from the male hopefuls who thought they were better than the female new recruits but the sergeant who had signed her up pulled those responsible up by saying Rose had got a higher pass rate than all of them put together.

He had then encouraged Rose when the time came for her first real assignment.

"I expect to see you back here Rose," he smiled on the last day of the final term. "You've put a lot of hard work into it, don't stop at being just a WPC."

"Thanks Sarge, I'm really looking forward to putting it all into practice," Rose laughed. "Don't worry, I'll be back, I've decided I want to be a detective constable."

"Of course you do," he laughed back. "Well good luck then."

Rose was assigned to a station and partnered with an older officer, whom she got on well with. It only took her a short time to get some experience since they patrolled parts of central London and the pair of them dealt with all kinds of odd occurrences.

Finally, Rose got her promotion to detective constable and she'd been out to celebrate but it had meant she had to move, to a town called Sandbrook. Her mother hadn't wanted to move away, even though Rose had somewhere to live so they had compromised and Jackie said she would visit when she could.

She arrived at her new station and was told to report to detective inspector Alec Hardy, who had been informed he was to have a new DC after the chief had enough of Alec arguing with his wife when they'd come back in from following a lead and had welcomed being told they were getting a new officer. The chief thought he was rather throwing Rose in at the deep end but he'd had little choice, no-one else would work with the grumpy detective.

"Welcome to Sandbrook, DC Tyler," the chief greeted her. "Our senior detective is in need of a new partner, you'll have the use of a car to drive him around and you'll gain some valuable experience, learning how he works. Any questions?"

Rose thought she could have been given a bit more information, there wasn't much to go on. She really wanted to ask why she was being partnered right away with a senior officer, what had happened to the last one? She decided against it and got up.

"Where do I find him, Sir?" Rose asked instead.

"On the next floor, go into the main office and knock on his door but be warned," the chief smiled.

"Geez, what have I let myself in for?" Rose asked herself as she got up.

"Go to the personnel office while you're on this floor, they'll sort you out," he then added. "Oh and watch out for DS Hardy, the DI's wife. I just split them up for arguing all the time. Don't get caught up in it. Any problems, come straight to me."

"Yes Sir but how do I deal with her, if she starts on me?" Rose wanted to know.

"Look Rose," the chief replied, putting a folder on the desk. "They're having marriage problems, which is why I split them up from working together. Just do your job and ignore her, she'll get over it."

Rose hoped the chief was right. She finished in the personnel office and went to the next floor, butterflies in her tummy at the thought of walking into an argument between the two detectives. She entered the outer office and everyone looked up, Rose glancing around and trying to see who DS Hardy was.

Tess looked up from her phone, where she'd been texting Dave Harris, who had been sympathetic towards her lately and had asked her out for a drink. Since Alec was always in a mood, she'd decided to accept the offer and see what happened.

"Who are you then?" Tess acknowledged Rose.

"DC Rose Tyler, Ma'am," Rose stood in front of Tess's desk, trying to get used to her new rank. "I'm looked for DI Hardy, the chief sent me."

"Of course he did," Tess was annoyed after being told Alec was getting a new partner and it had to be a blonde female, a newly promoted one at that.

"Over there," Tess indicated to Alec's office, where he was trying not to take notice of what was going on.

He'd just got off the phone with the chief and he wasn't happy with a number of things.

"I prefer to do the driving," Alec had first complained. "After having Tess drive me around. So, what's this new officer like?"

"Young and blonde," the chief had laughed. "Seriously Alec, think yourself lucky I don't give you someone from another division. This one is serious about her promotion, she's worked hard to get it."

"Haven't they all?" Alec had grumbled back. "I want my objections noted."

"Yes Alec, anything else?" the chief had expected a list from the grumpy DI.

Alec had continued his list of complaints, the chief saying to give his new partner a chance.

"Alec, she's been patrolling in central London, I'm sure she can more than hold her own here," the chief had told him.

"That may be so," Alec had replied. "We'll see then but she had better get used to the way I work."

The chief had to laugh, knowing himself how Alec worked.

"Yes Alec, I know but go easy on her at first. No-one else has volunteered to work with you."

"That's due to Tess," Alec had reminded him. "Goodness knows what she has told her friends."

Alec had suspected she'd made a new friend, one Dave Harris, who was trying to get himself moved from another division. Well let him move, he'd soon see what Tess was like. Now, he'd spied a young blonde officer talking to Tess.

The new female officer looked smart, dressed in a casual dark grey jacket and matching trousers, then when Tess pointed her in his direction, he saw she had a light blue blouse underneath the jacket.

Rose had been glad to get out of uniform when she'd passed her exam and she was now glad she'd opted to wear trousers. She thanked Tess and went to knock on Alec's office door, hoping he wouldn't shout at her if he wasn't happy getting a new partner.

"Enter," Alec called out through the partly open door and taking his glasses off.

"Sir, I'm DC Rose Tyler, I was told to report to you."

"Have you been partnered with a DI before?" Alec wanted to know.

Didn't he know she was newly promoted, Rose wondered.

"No Sir, I worked with a sergeant at my old station," Rose told him.

"Well find your desk and I will call you when I need you or need to go out," Alec replied.

Why was it him who had to break in a new officer? Was the chief getting back at him because he and Tess argued every time? This one was going to cause a lot more arguments, judging by the way Tess had been looking over.

Tess had gone back to texting Dave.

'Dave, about that drink? Can we go out tonight? Alec's just got a new young blonde DC' she wrote.

'Lucky him!' Dave had texted back, a few emojis attached.

'Thought you were on my side' Tess replied.

'I was only joking Tess, sheesh' was the reply.

After a few more exchanges, they arranged to meet, since Tess knew her daughter stayed behind to play netball at school that evening then went to a friend's house afterwards. Alec wouldn't care, why would he? It wouldn't take him long to start flirting with his new young DC.

Alec had watched Rose leaving and sat back in his chair. This was not going to solve his problem with Tess, what had the chief been thinking? Breaking in a new junior officer was one thing but he hadn't been prepared for it being a young twenty something blonde female.

Tess was bound to raise objections on that, she'd go complain to the chief, then to whoever else would listen to her and finally, she'd start something once they got home. Daisy would be late home tonight, one of them would have to collect her from her friend's house and that was usually him.

Sure enough, Tess got up but she called in Alec's office first.

"What's going on Alec?" she wanted to know. "You aren't going to work with the new officer are you Alec?"

"I have no choice in the matter Tess," he reminded her. "You saw to it no-one else wanted the job."

"Don't be so sarcastic Alec," Tess huffed back. "We don't have to carry over our home life, what there is of it when we're at work."

"Who's fault is that?" Alec wanted to know. "I'm only working with the new DC Tess, don't make a big deal out of it."

Tess got up, knowing she'd lost so why should she make the effort?

"I'll go pick Daisy up tonight, I was going to visit my sister," Tess replied, thinking it was as good an excuse as any to meet with Dave.

Tess left and went to knock on the chief's door.

"What is it now Tess?" the chief greeted her. "Come to complain about Alec's new partner?"

"Why her?" Tess wanted to know, taking it she was invited to sit.

"Tess, if you can't keep your personal life out of the station, maybe you should consider a move?" the chief suggested, getting tired of her petty complaints.

"I expected a new officer but a young blonde, newly promoted? She'll be doing all kinds of things to try to impress him."

"Such as wearing short skirts and leaving half her blouse buttons unfastened?" the chief laughed. "I doubt it will go that far, her old chief speaks very highly of her. Give her a chance Tess."

Tess went off, deciding to see if Dave was around anywhere to tell him she hoped he wasn't going to mess her around. By the middle of the afternoon, Rose was finding her way around the way the department worked and had jumped when called into Alec's office.

"Come on Tyler, time to go out," Alec told her, getting up and going for his jacket. "We've just been passed a report by the chief that he wants us to handle. It will give you some good experience. Get one thing clear, I drive."

"Sir, I was told I'd be driving you around," Rose replied, moving out of his way.

"Really?" Alec stood putting his raincoat on. "Well, let's see what you can do then? Don't stand there Tyler, get your things."

Rose knew he was going to be nothing but trouble and she swore under her breath as she grabbed her jacket, her work bag and tried to catch up with him, seeing Alec pressing the lift button repeatedly, like the lift would get there faster.

They rode to the ground floor in silence, then she followed him to a door marked 'Garage' and went through after him.

"Sir," the traffic officer saw Alec then Rose behind him.

"This is DC Tyler, she needs authorising to take my car out," Alec told the man.

"Yes Sir. If she'll just sign the vehicle check form," Alec was told.

Rose took the clipboard, wondering if she should bother reading the form or if she was expected to know what was written on it. She'd never had to do that before, take responsibility for someone else's car. She assumed it wasn't his own car, since he was willingly handing it over to her.

"I will give you the directions," Alec told her as Rose started the car, glad it was an automatic or she would be stuck.

There was an onboard sat-nav but it appeared her new boss didn't believe in them. Well, if he did want her driving him around, he'd better get used to her using one or they'd get nowhere fast.

Chapter 2

Rose managed to complete her first assignment with her new boss without any issue, well maybe just one small one. They had just left a house and Alec had taken the lead, not that he'd told Rose much about them being there.

"Sir, can I ask something?" Rose had wanted to know as they got in the car.

"You may as well," Alec replied while putting the seatbelt on.

"Are ya gonna keep call me Tyler all the time?" Rose dared to challenge him. "I mean where I was before, everyone called me Rose."

"Is there any reason you do not like me using your surname?" Alec wondered as Rose set off back to the station, hoping she remembered the way.

She doubted he would give her directions.

"I suppose not," Rose had to admit, thinking he'd never go for it.

"Tyler, well Rose, having just been partnered with my wife, whom you may have guessed who that was, you will have realised I was looking forward to working on my own. Then I was informed a new officer was arriving. We have not yet got used to each other and I was not to know at your last station you went by your first name."

"Oh," was all Rose could think of replying.

"Give it time, Tyler," he then added, hoping she remembered the way back.

If he was going to have her driving him around, she had best not get them lost all the time.

Rose thought maybe there was the slightest chance he may eventually give in and use her first name, she had no idea how long that was going to be though.

Tess has found Dave and was complaining to him.

"I mean did they have to send a new officer who was young and blonde?" she had asked him in the staff canteen.

"Tess, why are you complaining to me?" Dave asked her. "I'm sure the chief knows what he's doing, partnering a new officer with a senior one."

"Go on, tell me how?" Tess replied. "He could have picked anyone."

Dave laughed loudly, making everyone look at them.

"Thought there was only a few DI's around here? The others already have someone under them, Alec's the only one who needs someone. After you worked with him, everyone objected."

Dave had seen her talking to most of the female officers after the chief had split Tess and Alec up, he hadn't needed to hear what Tess had been saying to know she was trying to put them off working with her husband. He had thought it amusing when Tess had complained to him about a young blonde.

Tess sat back on the chair, she'd been hoping for some sympathy but she wasn't going to get it from Dave Harris.

"What did you expect me to do?" Tess huffed.

Dave shook his head. If she was that bothered about it, maybe she was serious about seeing him after work?

"So are we meeting where we said?" Dave asked her.

Rose was now ready to leave and picking up her jacket, knocked on Alec's office door.

"Night then Sir," she told him when he looked up.

"Right, yes. I usually stay later," he admitted, since there was nothing special going on at home and Tess was meant to go pick up Daisy.

Did he believe her when she'd said she was going to see her sister?

"Oh, do you want me to stay?" Rose wondered.

"No, I doubt I will be going anywhere. Night then Tyler."

Rose had to smile as she left. They'd gone out and he couldn't even bring himself to use her first name outside the station. She was going to have to work on him though she didn't expect to be able to use his first name but who knew?

Tess went off to meet Dave, who had found a corner table away from everyone, got some drinks and was looking at the menu when Tess walked in.

"Fancy something to eat Tess? It's two for one tonight," he grinned.

Tess thought that was a good start, the cheapskate as he indicated for her to sit beside him. After they had eaten, Dave didn't waste any time putting his arm around the back of the seat and onto her shoulder.

"Relax Tess," he hinted as she seemed tense. "Why aren't you drinking?"

"I have to go pick up Daisy later," Tess replied.

"Why isn't Alec going?" Dave wondered. "Can't you call him?"

"I told him I was going to my sister's house," Tess admitted.

"That was sneaky Tess," Dave laughed. "He won't suspect anything then, will he if you ask him?"

Tess thought why not and got her phone out to call Alec. Alec had just got home and looked in the fridge for something to eat, knowing he should have stopped off for something. His phone was buzzing and he saw it was Tess. Was she making excuses up for not going to pick up Daisy?

"Alec, can you go get Daisy?" Tess greeted him.

"You are already out," Alec pointed out to her.

"I know but I wanted to stay a bit longer," Tess admitted.

"Sure you're at your sister's and not at the pub?" Alec had to ask her. "Admit it Tess and I bet you're with that Dave Harris."

"Don't be so suspicious Alec," Tess denied it. "Fine, I'll say I have to go."

"Don't be so obvious then," Alec told her. "Besides, I was about to make something to eat."

"Have you only just got home?" Tess wanted to know. "Been working late with your new blonde DC?"

"Stop it Tess," he snapped back. "Ask anyone what time she left."

"You could have arranged to meet her," Tess replied sarcastically.

"Like you did with Dave? Forget it Tess, it won't work. Go get Daisy, as you said you would."

With that, he hung up before she could protest further. Of course she was out with Harris, where else would she be? She had been sneaking around behind his back in the station, he should have listened closer to the whispering when he'd walked into the office, they all knew except him and his new DC, Rose Tyler.

Tess had taken an instant dislike to the newest officer and was now using her as a cover. Tyler wouldn't like it if she knew, that was for certain. He bet the chief had warned her about Tess anyway and why they were split up from working together. He would have to get his version in before Tess did, maybe Tyler would be his only ally.

Rose had got home earlier and thought about her first day in her new station. Alec Hardy hadn't been too bad, she had thought he was amusing with his funny ways of doing things, such as often raising his eyebrows, the way he kept reaching in his jacket pocket for his notebook and pen and his insistence at calling her Tyler.

Him not using the satnav though was more annoying, how was she supposed to find her way around the town she had only been in a short while? She couldn't afford a car of her own yet and she doubted she would get her boss's work car for her own use though it might be worth a try she supposed.

If she used the excuse of picking him up to save him leaving his own car in the garage, she might get away with it. There again, his wife already disliked her, she'd seen Tess's face when they'd gone back to the office. It might be fun winding DS Hardy up and he might even go along with it.

Tess finally got home with Daisy, although she had been late picking Daisy up and the girl had complained all the way home.

"Steph's mother was about to call you," Daisy had told her. "Were you and dad arguing over who was picking me up again?"

"Daisy, don't be so cheeky," Tess had told her. "I was at your aunt's."

"Yeah, whatever," Daisy had replied, putting her earphones on and playing with her phone.

It had left Tess wondering what exactly Daisy had been hearing her talk to Alec about. At least Dave had just been more affectionate in the corner of the pub than Alec was when they were out. Not that they went out much any more.

Alec had been eating his meal and thinking about that morning when he'd been told who he was to be partnered with. At first, he'd just wanted to be left on his own after Tess but he knew the rules and he'd got Tyler, Tess would probably request Dave Harris, the man was already wanting to be transferred.

The chief would probably go for it, just to keep the peace. Somehow, he wasn't that bothered but if affected the way Tess worked, then he'd have to say something.

Rose was early the next morning so she called to see the transport officer.

"Tyler, right?" Rose was asked. "Bit early to be going out?"

"Yeah, right. I just wondered if the car was only for DI Hardy's use or do others use it?"

"Well, DS Hardy used to borrow it sometimes," the officer admitted. "They both had their own cars, that I had to find room for when she could have taken it home with her for getting to and from work. You'd have to ask him what he wants to do, he may take it himself," Rose was told.

"Thanks. I'll call down if he wants to go out," Rose replied, thinking she'd maybe sounded a bit too keen to impress her new boss.

"So, you're new to the area then?" she was then asked. "I noticed the satnav hadn't been programmed, how did you find your way around yesterday?"

"I was given directions to where we were going and had to remember the way back," Rose grinned. "I don't think he likes using them."

"I'd take no notice of him next time and put it on," the officer laughed. "I've no objections of you taking the car, it's down to him though. You'd better appeal to his good side."

Rose didn't want to seem too keen to impress her new boss but she could always claim she was taking the initiative. That wouldn't do any harm, would it? She gave Alec time to settle then ignoring Tess, went into his office.

"What?" he asked as she stood opposite.

"Sir, I just thought of something. Since I have to drive you around, well maybe I can pick ya up in the mornings, save you bringing your car to leave it here all day?"

She sat down, waiting for him to flatly refuse her suggestions and tell her she had no chance.

"Where did that come from?" Alec wanted to know, leaning back in his chair and looking amused. "How do you know I don't want it for my own use?"

"Well Sir, I just thought maybe it was a good idea, I mean if you don't come to work with your wife?"

"Well, it's that obvious is it?" Alec asked her. "She normally takes our daughter to school and leaves early.

That was Tess's excuse for not setting off at the same time as he did so they had to take two cars. Maybe Tyler's idea wasn't so bad?

"Sorry Sir, I never meant to pry," Rose apologised.

"Don't be sorry Tyler. I will think about it and let you know by tonight," Alec replied.

"I can stay later, if ya want?" Rose offered.

"No need, maybe it is time I stopped?" Alec told her.

"I'm on my own anyway, in a tiny flat that there's just about enough room for when my mum wants to visit," Rose admitted, not knowing why she was bothering him about it. "It was all they could find me at the last minute."

"Better than a hotel or bedsit," Alec replied, also wondering why she was telling him.

"Yeah, I suppose I can only apply for something bigger if my mum came to live with me? She won't leave though, I asked her to come here with me."

"Some people don't like change Tyler," Alec pointed out.

Why was he giving her chance to just talk about something other than work? Rose got the hint to leave when he put his glasses on and picked up a folder. She thought he had better things to do than chat with her all morning. Rose got up to leave, saying she was sorry for keeping him talking.

He let it go, putting it down to the fact she was new and probably hadn't made any friends yet. At lunch time in the canteen, Rose saw a few who worked in the same department and asked if she could join them.

"I'm Rose, by the way," Rose told them when they said she could.

"Hi, we should have introduced ourselves yesterday," one of them told her. "I'm Trish, that's Kate and that's Jo," she pointed to the other two in turn. "So, you got to work with Hardy then?"

"Is that bad?" Rose wondered what that was supposed to mean.

"He and his wife were always at war with each other," Kate laughed. "You should have heard her going on about it."

"Why put them working together then?" Rose asked innocently.

"That was the chief's big mistake," Jo laughed.

"Well I'm keeping out of it," Rose decided, trying to eat her lunch before it got cold, not that it was all that nice, there was too much salt for her liking.

She thought if the food was like that every day, she may venture out to eat or have words with the chef.

Alec was watching from the other side of the canteen, hoping Tess wouldn't decide to join him. They had hardly spoken that morning except over something to do with Daisy before the girl had got downstairs.

"You need to have words with your daughter," Tess was telling Alec as he was trying to make some toasts and egg.

"Why me?" he wanted to know, licking butter from his fingers and Tess frowning at him. "Don't make me out to be the bad guy Tess."

"She was being cheeky last night when I picked her up," Tess had continued.

"She's a teenager Tess, what do you expect?" Alec had wanted to know.

"Don't take her side Alec," Tess had huffed, just as Daisy entered the kitchen.

"Thanks a lot Mum," Daisy complained, taking some toast Alec offered to her.

He wondered why it was always him who made Daisy her breakfast. So it was always peaceful for him at lunchtime, since Tess seemed to want to join her friends recently, probably to complain about him. Why did he put up with it, it was only for Daisy he supposed. Now, Tyler had come along and Tess had a new excuse to complain.

Rose spotted him on his own as she was about to leave and stopped at his table.

"Are you okay Sir?" she asked him as he squinted at his phone.

"Fine Tyler. Made some friends?" he hoped, so she wouldn't keep him talking all the time.

"Yeah, I hope so. Are we going out today?" Rose wanted to know, since she hadn't much to do except catch up on what had been going on before her arrival.

"Not unless something comes up," Alec replied, giving up on his phone. "Nothing to do?"

"Just catching up," Rose admitted. "There are a lot of cases that have just been left," she added.

"You want to do something about them?" he replied. "Go ahead Tyler, let me know if you find anything then."

Rose was pleased with herself and went off to the ladies room to call her mother.

"How ya getting' on?" Jackie wanted to know. "How's the new boss?"

"Okay so far Mum. The only thing is, he seems to be at war with his wife, the chief warned me yesterday."

"You need to be careful there Rose," Jackie warned her. "Don't get caught up in it."

"I'm tryin' not to," Rose laughed. "It ain't gonna be easy, she already doesn't like me gettin' partnered with her husband."

Rose went back to work, seeing Tess down the corridor talking to Dave.

"So can you get out later?" Dave was asking Tess, wanting more than a few sneaked kisses in the pub and when Tess had been leaving.

"I don't know Dave, it depends if Alec's working late or not. When I called him to go pick up Daisy last night, he'd only just got home," Tess complained.

Dave let out a laugh, making Rose wonder what was going on.

"So, he was keeping his new partner 'working' late was he?"

"Shut up Dave," Tess didn't want to be reminded.

Then she caught a glimpse of Rose turning the corner to go back to the office. She bet anything the young blonde already had her eye on Alec. Did he seem any different? Being late home last night and claiming Tyler had gone home early still bothered her. Did Alec really expect her to believe that?

"Oh, that hit a sore spot then?" Dave laughed some more. "Was that her who just came around the corner?"

"Trust you to spot a blonde," Tess replied. "All the males will be going after her, trust me."

"Jealous Tess?" Dave tried to be serious.

Tess went to hit his arm but he stopped her.

"Don't take it out on me Tess," Dave told her. "Meet me the same place as last night?" he then suggested.

"I'll have to tell Daisy to stay at my mother's then," Tess agreed.

"Don't worry Tess, Alec will be too busy to notice," Dave assured her.

It seemed obvious to him that Alec wouldn't waste any time going after the new female officer. If it made Tess really jealous, it would make things easier.

Chapter 3

When Alec saw Tess sneaking off before finishing time, he got even more suspicious as to her claim at being at her sister's house last night. He was interrupted by Rose knocking on the door and letting herself in.

"Sir, about the car," she reminded him. "Have you thought about it?"

"Sit down Tyler," Alec replied, knowing he had to confide in someone and it might as well be her, since she was new and hadn't taken sides yet. "If I let you drive me to and from the station every day, well my wife will object and you two do not seem to get on."

Rose thought the woman hadn't even given her a chance.

"Sir, I don't wanna cause any trouble," she told him.

"It would have made no difference who was assigned to me," Alec admitted. "She would still have found fault. I apologise if she has made you feel unwelcome."

What had come over him, apologising like that? He'd even given up apologising to Tess, he wasn't going to take much more from her, he was sure of that.

"It was just an idea," Rose was stuck for something to say. "I'll leave it for now then?"

"It would be best," Alec agreed. "Are you having problems getting here?"

"No but I had to leave early to get here on time and a good thing too, the bus was early," Rose grinned.

"I see then? I will think further about it, I don't expect it will make Tess any worse anyway," Alec replied. "Take my advice Tyler and just ignore her."

"That's what the chief told me," Rose told him as she got up.

"We both agree on that," Alec gave her half a smile. "You answer to me, not her anyway, if she gives you any trouble, come and tell me. Night then Tyler."

"Night Sir. I'll try and keep away from her. Actually, I made a few friends earlier and they all refer to her as Tess, I'm still tryin' to get used to my new rank."

"It happens," Alec told her. "Officially you are entitled to use first names but she may object. As for more senior officers, tread carefully Tyler."

Rose thought she detected another half smile from him but left it. She would have to see if she had any occasion to address DS Hardy but if Tess was being talked about in the canteen would join in next time. As she left, the women she'd talked to earlier were just leaving.

"Hey Rose, not in trouble with the boss are you?" she was asked.

"Nah, been tryin' to see if I can get use of the car I drive him around in," she admitted.

"You'll be lucky," they all laughed. "Tess probably uses it just to spite him. You know they worked together, against the chief's better judgement?" Jo asked her.

"He told me. Ya never know, he might go for it," Rose replied. "Night then."

By the end of the week, Rose was no nearer talking Alec into letting her use the car and they'd only been out a few times. Friday lunchtime, Rose's new friends were telling each other their plans for the weekend.

"What about you Rose?" she was asked.

Rose had been taking no notice, she was watching Tess with interest as she was ignoring poor Alec in favour of sitting with some other senior officers.

"What? Oh, just shopping and finding my way around," Rose grinned.

"By bus?" Kate laughed.

The other two just laughed.

"Don't remind me," Rose replied. "If I do get the car, I won't get much personal use out of it I expect?"

"Better than Tess having it," Trish laughed. "I think she used to take it home on Friday night, lord knows where she parked it since they both have their own cars."

Rose went back to finishing her lunch then saw Tess cross over to where Alec was trying to read his phone screen. She really did feel sorry for her new boss and she wasn't helping things but it was up to him to do something about it.

"What are we doing over the weekend Alec?" Tess asked him as she stood by the table.

"Why ask now?" Alec wanted to know, putting his phone down.

"I expect we'll do the weekly shopping in the morning?" Tess replied. "Are you on call? I expect you are, you and your new partner."

"Stop it Tess. No, I am not on call. What can you possibly have against Tyler? You really put out the welcome mat," Alec replied.

"She'll survive," Tess told him, patting her hair.

"Not if you keep staring at her every time we go out and come back in again," Alec disagreed. "I'm considering letting her take my work car."

"What for?" Tess wanted to know.

"She can drive me to and from work, she may as well. You always go off without me," he complained.

"Only to take Daisy to school. You could offer to take her Alec," Tess argued.

"I am expected to be here on time, before everyone else," he reminded her.

"I'm surprised you don't have your new DC bring you coffee when she arrives," Tess told him sarcastically.

Alec shook his head and picking up his phone, pushed the chair back and walked off. Rose saw him and wondered what had happened and would he be in a bad mood the rest of the day? There went any chance of getting the car then.

Alec got a call once he was back in his office, it was the transport officer.

"So is DC Tyler getting use of the car then Sir?" Alec was asked.

"She already asked you?" Alec replied.

"A few days ago. She said she was going to ask."

"I've not decided yet but have it ready," Alec told the man.

That would really get Tess going, Alec thought. He wondered what Tess would do if he were to be collected on Monday morning? Why was he starting to enjoy getting Tess annoyed? Was it since Tyler arrived? Tyler had certainly brought the good side of Tess out.

He'd heard a few more rumours about her and Dave Harris during the week but had tried to ignore them and she'd been all mysterious at home. Well let her, things couldn't get much worse. Tyler wasn't helping but it would still have happened had anyone else been assigned to him.

He got up and called Rose into his office.

"You already asked about using the car?" he asked when he'd indicated for Rose to sit.

"Was that wrong?" Rose was worried she should have asked him first.

"Just the opposite Tyler," Alec replied. "It shows you have initiative. See the transport officer on Monday morning."

He would have let her take it that evening but there would be paperwork involved, of him authorising her to use it and the chief approving, though that was a mere formality, it was up to himself really.

"Really?" Rose sounded surprised. "Yes Sir, I'll do that, thanks. I have somewhere to park it, thankfully."

"Good, don't get it stolen or damaged then," Alec told her. "If my wife says anything about it on Monday, tell her to see me about it."

Rose thought she'd enjoy doing that, Tess hadn't exactly made her feel welcome since her arrival. What was wrong with the woman? Was she jealous that she no longer worked directly with her husband? Her boss hadn't seemed too bothered about it.

As she left, she couldn't help but smile that he'd given in and her friends noticed. Since they all sat together, they nudged each other.

"Wonder why Rose looks so pleased?'" Jo whispered.

"Hardy must have given in about the car," Trish suggested.

"That'll annoy Tess then," Kate grinned. "They'll be sparks flying when she finds out."

"Great, that's all we need," Jo complained. "Looks like war's been declared between the Hardys?"

"Bet he doesn't tell Tess over the weekend," Trish wondered.

"No, he'll wait," Jo agreed. "Don't you think Kate?" she asked her friend.

"What?" Kate had got distracted by Tess watching Rose leaving Alec's office. "Oh, he won't tell her, you can be sure of that," she agreed.

"Can't wait until Monday morning then," Jo laughed at the thought.

Tess was trying to think why Alec kept making up excuses to get Rose into his office. She finally had enough and got up to ask him.

"I hope Tyler's visit was work related Alec?" she confronted him.

"What is it with you Tess?" Alec wanted to know. "Of course it was. Do I ask you what you talk to your friends about on your breaks? Get over it Tess, if you can't deal with Tyler working with me, ask the chief for a transfer then."

"Charming," Tess replied. "That would just suit you, wouldn't it?"

"Well Dave Harris wanted to move here, maybe you can exchange places with him?"

Tess made a noise then left in a temper.

"You can be really infuriating Alec," she huffed as she opened the door, making everyone including Rose look up.

Alec watched her leaving, sitting back in his chair with his arms behind his head. That had struck a chord, he thought as he noticed Rose had stopped what she was doing to watch Tess leaving in a huff. Tess was getting worse and he knew it, the question was, what was he going to do about it?

Why was she so against his new DC? If the chief had partnered Tyler with Tess, would it have made any difference to their home life? He had to think about this, carefully but he had to work with Tyler, whether Tess liked it or not. The few times he'd been out, they had come back into the office together, maybe he should let Tyler go in first, then follow a few minutes later?

No, that would make Tess even worse, he decided. She would know he was doing it on purpose. There was no easy answer apart from asking the chief to either transfer Tess or Tyler so there wasn't much choice.

Rose went back to the files she was going through, wondering what had happened to make Tess storm out of Alec's office. She saw her new friends talking amongst themselves and thought she would catch up with them later to see what they made of it.

When it was nearly time to leave, Rose got up to see about collecting the car, calling by their desks.

"You're off early Rose," Kate remarked.

"Yeah, gotta go see about a car," Rose grinned. "Not sure why the boss changed his mind though."

"So that was why Tess stormed out of his office then?" Trish tried to be serious.

"Maybe not?" Jo wondered. "She would have confronted Rose."

"Geez, do ya think so?" Rose was worried.

"Sorry Rose but it'll only cause more trouble," Kate told her. "You'd best get going, before Tess notices."

Rose got to the garage, the paperwork for the car ready for her in the office to her surprise.

"It's all been taken car of," she was assured as she was pointed to where to sign. "Keep a record of personal mileage and keep all the fuel receipts. It's got a full tank already."

"Thanks, at least I don't have to call and get any on the way home," Rose laughed.

"So, what have you got planned now you've got the use of the car?" she was asked as she was handed the keys.

"Just shopping I suppose?" Rose was a bit surprised, not knowing where this was going.

She had seen the badge on the traffic officer's police sweater, Sergeant D Peters but didn't know his first name.

"I'm Dean by the way," he replied," Rose thinking if she didn't get out soon, Tess would be around.

Then Hardy would probably ask why she was still there. She hoped the man blocking the doorway would come to the point.

"Still finding your way around town?" she was then asked.

"I'm managing, thanks," Rose replied as he didn't move.

"Well, if you're still having trouble, maybe I can show you around?"

Rose thought he was kind of handsome, maybe around her boss's age but she had no interest in older men, well not that much older.

"I'm fine, thanks all the same," she replied as she indicated she wanted to leave as she saw a few others going to their cars.

If Tess saw her, she would surely ask questions, Rose thought as Dean moved slightly.

"Well if you change your mind, you know where to find me," she was reminded as he put his hand on the door frame and Rose was about to dodge under it until she saw Alec looking in that direction.

"Tyler, thought you had left?" Alec called over to her, making the other man move aside.

"I was about to," Rose aimed the remark at the other officer.

Alec stopped her as she passed him.

"Trouble?" he asked her quietly, nodding to where she had come from.

"No Sir," Rose didn't want any trouble if Tess came along.

"I should hope not then," Alec replied. "Was he bothering you?"

"Not exactly." Rose replied. "I should get going then, Sir. Thanks for arranging the car."

"Night then Tyler and watch out next time," Alec warned her.

"Should I be worried?" Rose wondered as the other officer went back to what he was doing.

"I've had a few complaints," Alec admitted. "He even called me earlier to ask if I had decided to let you take the car or not."

"I take it that's unusual?" Rose also wondered.

"You could say that Tyler. See you on Monday morning, I will make my own way in," he offered.

"I could get you," she reminded him, wondering what Tess would do when she brought him home, let alone collect him in the morning.

"That's not a good idea Tyler," Alec replied. "That would take some explaining," he half smiled at the thought of Tess erupting on the kitchen doorstep.

"So your wife doesn't know you were thinking about letting me use the car?" Rose asked him. "I was told she used it before she stopped working with you?"

"Yes but she uses her own car now, she takes our daughter to school first anyway," Alec admitted, wondering why he was standing in the middle of the police garage having this conversation. "Don't let me keep you Tyler," he then added as he saw Tess was about to enter the garage.

"Alec," Tess called over to him. "Can you go get Daisy since she was in a mood with me this morning?"

"Really?" Alec wasn't that surprised.

Rose thought she had better leave before she was dragged into this.

"Still here DC Tyler?" Tess then asked her.

"I was just leaving," Rose replied.

Alec waited until she had gone before he confronted Tess.

"You don't have to be so rude Tess," he told her.

"Well, what was she doing here?' Tess wanted to know. Then she heard a nearby car starting and turned around. "You let her take the car?"

"Stop it Tess. It is just stuck here, it may as well be used," Alec told her.

"Why, so she can drive you to work and back?" Tess scoffed, seeing the look on his face. "Really Alec."

He knew it hadn't been a good idea.

"Hold on, you were meant to do that but you never did," he reminded her. "As for Daisy, you go get her, then you can go gossip with your mother."

"Huh," Tess replied and went off to her car.

What had he and Tyler been talking about, Tess wondered.

Rose had been glad to make her escape but she felt sorry for her boss, trying to explain things. She had to remember what Alec had said to her, about having trouble with Tess but she didn't think anything would happen until she'd taken him home on Monday night.

Alec had driven off, leaving Tess standing by her car. She was about to get in when Dave appeared.

"Going out tonight Tess?" he asked with a big grin on his face.

"No, Alec refuses to get Daisy so I have to go get her," Tess complained.

"You're going about it all wrong Tess," Dave laughed. "You won't be able to sneak off and meet me at the pub any more then?"

"Don't look too disappointed Dave," Tess replied.

"Oh come on Tess, it's not the end of the world," Dave laughed some more. "We could always sneak off at lunchtime you know? We could go to that pub by the town hall?"

"Then Alec will get suspicious," Tess replied.

"You could say you're meeting a friend," Dave suggested.

"Like he'll fall for that," Tess told him.

"It could be an old friend you met again recently," Dave suggested.

"I'll think about it. Anyway, I suppose Daisy can wait another hour," Tess agreed.

They met where they had been before and Dave was sat waiting in his car. He opened the window when Tess arrived.

"Get in Tess," he insisted. "I know a place we can go."

Tess got in and they drove off, Tess wondering what she was doing going off with her colleague. Was Alec getting even more suspicious? This was bold, she'd never intended that her complaining about Alec to Dave would go so far.

Once out of the town centre, Dave turned down a lane that led to a grassed area and stopped the car.

"Relax Tess, no-one comes here, trust me."

He got out of the car and went around to open the door for her, opening the back door at the same time.

"After you Tess," he grinned as he helped her then got in beside her, trying to take her jacket off and go for her shirt buttons.

Looking flushed a while later, Tess was driven back to her car where they went into the pub for a quick drink.

"Well?" Dave grinned at her. "Exciting?"

Tess was getting her phone out, since Daisy was calling to find out where she was.

"I got held up," Tess insisted. "I'm on my way."

Alec had got home and wondered if he should catch Tess out and turn up at her mother's house. If she wasn't there, then he had something to worry about but if she was, she'd think he was spying on her.

Chapter 4

Rose was pleased that she'd not had to dash out for the bus home but she was still a bit un-nerved that she'd been prevented from leaving the garage office. She had been glad to see her boss had been paying attention to what was going on. Was she going to have the same problem every time she parked? She hoped not, she would have to keep the car keys on her so she didn't have to ask for them.

She wondered if she should be worried about what she'd been told by her boss, that he'd had a few complaints about the traffic officer. That was all she needed, to have to dodge the man every time she went for the car. After making something to eat, Rose called her mother.

"You never!" Jackie laughed when told Rose had got a car. "How did ya manage that?"

"I had to offer to drive my boss to work and back," Rose had to admit. "The thing is, I've already made an enemy out of his wife, she just doesn't seem to like me. She's a DS and she used to be his work partner."

"Well ya'd best be careful then," Jackie suggested. "So did ya say ya'd made a few friends?"

"Yeah, they're friendly enough," Rose told her. "Are ya gonna think about coming down for a visit then?"

"I'll think about it. So, do ya want to hear all the latest gossip?" Jackie wanted to know.

After listening another half hour, Rose finally said goodbye and accessed her phone's map and tried to figure out how to get driving directions on it so she wouldn't get lost going shopping the next day.

Alec was about to call Daisy to see if Tess had collected her, guessing he was maybe right about Tess taking her time talking to her mother or had she sneaked off somewhere to meet with Dave Harris? Why was he so suspicious, was it the other night when Tess had suddenly said she wanted to see her sister or had he just ignored things before that?

He hated the fact that he may have cause to be worried. He had confided in Tyler that Tess might make a fuss when he was picked up for work and he'd talked to her when he was leaving. She had looked relieved at being rescued and he'd have to have words with the traffic officer again. He thought the last warning he'd given the man might have been enough but obviously not, it always seemed to be after a new female officer had arrived.

Monday morning, Rose went to park in the usual spot and kept hold of the keys, she just hoped her boss would want to go out so it was justified. She was about to open the door when Tess was behind her.

"You're lucky to have got the use of that car after only being here a short time," Tess told her as Rose held the door open and was pressing for the lift. "I didn't use it all the time."

"I was told I could take it," Rose defended herself as they got in the lift, Rose pressing for the first floor.

"You mean you asked?" Tess replied. "Let me give you some advice, DC Tyler. Don't appear to over keen, no-one likes a show-off."

"Excuse me saying so but I wasn't, I was trying to show initiative, do you want me to say I don't want the car?" Rose asked her.

She got out of the lift and walked away before she said something else that she might not get away with. "Cheeky cow," she thought as she went into the office and to the break area.

Trish and Kate were already making coffee so Rose joined them, Tess walking in behind her and going to her desk.

"What's wrong with her?" Trish asked innocently.

"She got in the lift with me," Rose replied.

"Just because she's a DS," Trish replied, trying not to glance at Tess. "We have to report to her, lucky you doesn't have to bother."

"Well I feel sorry for ya," Rose smiled. "Hardy's not that bad, I wonder why she's funny with everyone?"

"Don't get involved Rose," Kate warned her. "There are rumours about her and some DS in another division, don't know how true they are."

"Well I'll make her even worse if my boss wants a ride home tonight," Rose admitted.

"You're asking for trouble," Trish told her as she picked her drink up.

Rose thought she'd better get to her desk before Hardy shouted for her.

Alec had seen the three of them together in the corner and Rose then going to sit at her desk. What was it about her? He had considered breaking his rule of no first names when they had to go out but was it such a good idea? If he got used to it, he may forget and carry it over to when they returned. That would make Tess even worse, dare he rile her up any more?

The weekend had been a drag, especially the shopping when he'd let Tess go off on her own in the supermarket. As usual she had returned with things he either didn't like or new things to try. He supposed she'd done it to annoy him and to hint he should have gone in with her.

He decided he should get his new DC on his side before Tess got her claws into her so he got up and called for her.

"Sir?" Rose wondered what he'd called her for when he told her to sit.

"Is my wife making things difficult for you?" he wanted to know as he took off his glasses.

Rose wondered if he knew Tess had confronted her in the lift earlier.

"Well she said something about me taking the car, on the way up from the garage," Rose told him.

Alec knew Tess wouldn't have been able to resist.

"I hope you told her you had my permission?" Alec replied, raising his eyebrows.

"More or less, Sir," Rose had to smile.

This was going to be easier than he thought, Alec decided. So Tyler already disliked Tess as much as apparently Tess did Tyler, he mused.

"So how did you find your first week?" he changed the subject.

"Okay. Is it always so quiet?" Rose wondered.

"Make the most of it Tyler," Alec replied. "It will not always be so quiet."

"I thought we would be going out more?" Rose replied.

"Have you found anything worth investigating in those old cases you are going through?" Alec changed the subject.

"One or two," Rose admitted.

"Then make some more enquiries," Alec told her, wondering why she hadn't already done so.

"I was going to Sir," Rose insisted. "It was just what DS Hardy said to me earlier."

"Whatever it was, take no notice Tyler. She will try and hold you back so I will not want to work with you," he warned her.

"She'd really do that?" Rose wanted to know. "She told me not to…" Rose stopped.

"Show off?" Alec guessed, thinking that was typical of Tess.

Wait until he confronted Tess, Alec thought.

"Go ahead and next time, tell her I will say if you are showing off," Alec continued, rubbing his face, Rose noticing he'd grown a bit of a beard over the weekend, which kind of suited him.

Alec had intentional not shaved over the weekend, since Tess was obviously trying to warn Tyler to back off getting over-friendly with him at work. She had said something before she had left to drop Daisy at her mother's, since it was a teacher training day. Alec had said for her to drop him at the front of the police station.

"Thought you'd got a driver Alec?" Tess had asked him as they waited for Daisy. "Didn't she take the car on Friday night?"

"Leave it Tess," Alec had warned her. "She will be collecting me from tomorrow morning."

"That's going to give Daisy the wrong impression," Tess pointed out. "What if she looks out of the window and sees you getting in the front seat with a blonde?"

"Daisy knows the car Tess," Alec replied. "You brought it home enough times for her to recognise it as a police car."

"Well the car was doing nothing at the time," Tess huffed.

"Well it is doing nothing now so Tyler may as well use it," Alec told her. "Daisy, you are going to make us late," he told the almost teenager.

"Why are you going with mum?" Daisy wanted to know.

"Because I have a new driver who will be bringing me home," Alec replied.

"Oh, the new officer mum was complaining about," Daisy called after her, leaving Alec annoyed.

So before he had got out of the car outside the station, he had confronted Tess.

"Did you have to say anything in front of Daisy?" he asked Tess.

"Well really Alec, what do you expect?" Tess had told him.

So he had been annoyed as he'd gone to his office.

Rose got up to leave.

"Tyler," Alec called after her. "This may be a quieter place than your last posting."

"I know Sir," Rose turned and smiled, getting half a smile back.

Alec picked up his phone and called the chief.

"What is going on around here?" he asked when his call was answered.

"Good morning to you too Alec," the chief told him. "Don't tell me. Tess again?"

"She is making DC Tyler feel unwelcome," Alec replied. "I suggested to Tess that she gets a transfer to another department if she does not like someone else working with me."

"Then if you're serious, let me see what I can do," the chief had to agree to get some peace from the complaints about the two of them. "There is something that concerns me Alec," the chief added. "There are rumours going around."

"About what?" Alec wanted to know, as if he couldn't guess.

"Tess being friendly with a certain detective in another division. Were you aware Alec?"

"It came to my attention," Alec admitted. "Tess seems to have got careless since Tyler was assigned to work with me."

"Then talk to Tess about it," the chief insisted. "These things only make gossip worse Alec."

"Then make Tess move, don't give her a choice," Alec replied.

"She won't be happy," the chief reminded him.

"She is not happy now," Alec told him. "It cannot make things any worse."

"Maybe it would be playing into her hands, to put her with the other person the gossip is about?" the chief wondered. "Leave it with me. The only other thing is to transfer her to the other station."

"Then she will make me take Daisy to school," Alec complained.

"You can't have everything," the chief laughed.

Which was going to be best, Alec had to decide. It wasn't Tyler's fault, the problem was with Tess. Did he want her to go work in the same division as Dave Harris? If Tess was on the verge of having an affair, it may put them both off if they had to work together.

Rose joined her friends at lunchtime and as usual, the topic turned to Tess.

"Guess what I heard earlier?" Trish was dying to tell them.

"How come you hear all the gossip first?" Jo laughed.

"Never mind that. Tess was seen driving off to meet someone the other night. That someone was Dave Harris."

"Seriously?" Kate asked, Rose not knowing who they were talking about.

"Who's he?" Rose dared ask.

"Another DS, you've probably seen him," Jo told her.

"Tess was talking to someone in the corridor, I saw them last week," Rose admitted. "Is she for real?"

"They avoid each other in here," Trish laughed.

"What does Tess even see in him?" Kate wondered.

Rose glanced over to where Tess was about to sit with Alec.

"What do you want Tess?" Alec wanted to know as she sat down. "If you're complaining about Tyler again, don't bother."

"Charming Alec. I have to go see the chief after lunch, do you know what it's about?"

"How would I know?" Alec replied, putting his phone away.

They hadn't seen Rose was observing them. She was wondering now what Tess and this Dave Harris had been talking about. She should have maybe paid more attention.

A lot happened in the next few days. Everyone was surprised Tess was still there when word had been spreading she was about to be transferred. Tess had refused to be moved so the chief had warned her about her hostility towards Rose, to which Tess had complained but had to agree in order to stay.

At the end of the week, Rose had taken Alec out on a few calls and had continued to go back to the office at the same time, despite Rose offering to drop him out front.

"We can both go the same way Tyler," Alec had told her.

"Sorry but I still get the feeling like Tess is watching me," Rose had admitted.

"Just ignore her, she will soon get tired of it," Alec had tried to assure her. "Does it make you uncomfortable?"

"It gives me the creeps," Rose had laughed as she parked the car in the garage.

"Any more trouble with the traffic officer?" Alec nodded towards the office.

"Nah, I think he got the message," Rose replied. "I keep the keys with me."

"Sensible," Alec had to admit, holding the door open for her. "Tyler, have you heard any rumours about Tess?"

"I don't think I should say Sir," Rose told him as the lift arrived.

"That bad then?" he half smiled as he pressed the lift button.

"I just don't wanna add to it," Rose admitted.

As they got out of the lift, Alec stopped.

"Tyler. Just act normally when we walk into the office. Pay no attention to Tess."

"Won't that make her even worse?" Rose asked. Then she started to get what he was doing. "Oh. I did mean to ask if it had made things worse by me drivin' ya home."

"Trust me, it could not make her any worse Tyler. You objected to my calling you Tyler when you arrived," he reminded her.

"I got used to it," Rose replied, wondering why he was delaying them.

"Well maybe I can bend my rule slightly but only while we are out," he told her.

"Wow. I'd best not tell anyone, in case it gets back to Tess then?" Rose smiled.

"A wise decision, Rose," Alec actually smiled.

When Rose walked towards her desk, she passed by where her friends were.

"What are you smiling at Rose?" Trish wanted to know.

"Tell ya later," Rose laughed, making them even more curious.

Tess also wanted to know why the younger officer had a grin on her face, having seen Alec going to his office. He appeared to be in a good mood and she was dying to know why but the chief had warned her about mixing their personal lives with work. That had been part of her being able to stay.

Rose had noticed Tess was going into Alec's office less often and thought he must have said something to her. She hoped Tess would now pay less attention whenever herself and Alec returned. Her boss was now finally lightening up somewhat, which made her feel more at ease and if Tess was less hostile, she may even begin to feel like she belonged there.

She had been sad to leave her old station but she had wanted the promotion and to work with someone who could teach her a lot about being a detective. She just hoped something big would come along, to test her new skills.

When Alec got home, Tess was waiting for him.

"You took your time Alec," Tess started to tell him.

"Don't Tess," he warned her. "It's Friday, there was a lot of traffic and I left after you did. Is Daisy here?"

"Not yet, I was about to go get her. I don't suppose you're going instead?"

"Why?" Alec wanted to know.

Now was his chance to see if the rumours were true or not.

"Fine, I'll go then," Tess decided.

She hadn't yet arranged anything with Dave but there was still time to call him. He'd hardly spoken to her since the other day when he'd taken her by surprise but she had gone willingly into the back seat of his car again. Maybe he'd been disappointed that she'd stopped him from going too far.

She had felt all flushed as they had adjusted their clothing after going for each other hurriedly and she had got a little over-excited, which Dave probably was pleased with himself over that he had got her like that but was that all he wanted? She set off to get Daisy but stopped outside her mother's house to call Dave.

"Tess, why are you calling?" he wanted to know as he left the living room where his wife was watching an annoying soap opera.

"You hardly spoke to me today," Tess complained.

"What? It bothered you?" he sounded amused. "Come on Tess, we had fun the other night, let's leave it at that for now," he suggested.

"You used me," Tess was annoyed.

"Well you were annoyed with Alec," Dave reminded her. "You got your own back on him."

"You think I went with you to get my own back on Alec?" Tess was even more annoyed.

"Well if that wasn't the reason, what was Tess?" Dave replied. "Don't pretend it wasn't. Anyway, I can't keep meeting you after work, I'm running out of excuses for being late home."

"Fine," Tess huffed. "I was offered a transfer to your division," she admitted.

"Tess, that's not a good idea," Dave replied. "We can't be seen together, it's bad enough people pass us in the corridor. Mind you, there was that young blonde last week sometime who was paying attention. She probably fancied me," he laughed. "Don't get jealous will you?"

"Huh, I can attract other men you know," Tess told him. "I thought you were understanding? Seems I was wrong about you if you want to go chasing after some young blonde. Hold on, did she have shoulder-length hair?"

"Ah, is that the one you were complaining about?" he teased her. "You think she fancies your husband."

"Don't remind me. He didn't even bother shaving over the weekend, now he's got the makings of a beard. Maybe that will put her off?" Tess hoped.

Rose had got home after dropping Alec off where he lived having put the address in the satnav.

"You know how to use that thing?" he noticed on the way there.

"Yeah, they come in handy," Rose laughed.

Alec had just stayed quiet until he was getting out of the car.

"Night then Tyler, sorry, I meant Rose. Don't take it personally if I forget to use your first name."

"I'll try not to. Night Sir," Rose had just replied.

Now, she was wondering about his change in appearance. He was obviously trying to grow a beard but why? Was he doing it to annoy Tess or put other women off? If he wasn't very careful, he was going to fail on the last one.

Chapter 5

When Tess had left to get Daisy, he wondered again how long it was going to take her. Why was he even putting up with these excuses she kept coming out with? Right, time to retaliate, he decided. Let her stare as he went back into the office after Tyler, no he had to remember to start calling her Rose.

Rose didn't get along with Tess when she seemed to get on with everyone else and Tess had gone out of her way to instantly dislike Rose. So on Monday, he would see how things went and if Rose wanted to go out more, since it was fairly quiet, he may consider following some of the leads she'd come up with.

Then he'd see how Tess reacted and if she blew up about it, he was going to either get her transferred out or have Dave Harris moved to the other station across town, see how Tess liked that. He had no proof yet that Tess was actually cheating on him, only the fact she had kept making up excuses to not get Daisy on time recently.

Rose had been left wondering how come her boss had just decided to keep using her first name. She had been hoping he would but it had happened all of a sudden. Maybe his wife had something to do with it, like he was doing it to annoy her. Well if he wanted to do that, she was willing to go along with it for a laugh with her friends, they would find it amusing.

She hadn't thought Alec Hardy had much of a sense of humour but maybe he did have after all? It would make things interesting she supposed. She decided over the weekend she was going to explore the area and maybe tempt her mother to join her but the next morning, she had a surprise call from her mother.

"Rose, how are you sweetheart?" Jackie wanted to know.

"Fine Mum. Is something wrong?" Rose wondered.

"Well, ya asked me to come and visit, remember?" Jackie reminded her. "Are ya sure there's room for me?"

Rose wondered what had come over her mother suddenly. Was it because she'd mentioned driving her boss around? Why would that bother her mother? Then she realised what it was.

"Mum, this ain't got nothing to do with me saying I don't get on with my boss's wife?" Rose had to be sure.

Jackie tried not to let on.

"Well, I was just worried ya weren't settling down," Jackie had to admit. "Why don't I come down for a few days?"

Rose had to agree, her mother might not offer again.

"Yeah, that would be great Mum. Anyway, how's the hairdressing? Has it picked up?"

"Not really, don't know what to do about it. I suppose if I had a car it'd help?" Jackie wondered.

"Why not try working in a salon?" Rose suggested.

"Ya know I'm not keen on that, well not around here," Jackie laughed.

It had been a difficult Sunday so far for Alec. He was already bored and Tess didn't want to go anywhere when he suggested something. How much more was he able to put up with? So he was sort of glad when Monday morning came around and Rose was waiting outside.

"Before we set off, I have an unusual request," Alec told her as he put the seatbelt on.

Rose was curious so she just waited for him to continue.

"You can say no," he added when she looked at him.

"Well it depends what it is," Rose replied cautiously.

"Don't look so worried," Alec told her. "I thought maybe when we get back to the office after being out, well there is no need to suddenly stop talking when we go inside?"

"Oh," was all Rose could say, as if they said much anyway. "So ya want Tess to notice?" she wondered.

"Ah, well yes," Alec admitted. "Is that too much to ask?"

"Suppose not?" Rose mused, setting off or they would be late, since he liked getting there early. "No, I don't mind, she hardly can complain about me, can she?"

"No, not to me," Alec tried to assure her.

"Hey, maybe when we get back I can bring you coffee?" Rose smiled.

"Mmm, don't get too far ahead," Alec smiled at the thought of annoying Tess even more.

"Well it doesn't help when ya keep calling me into your office – Sir," Rose laughed.

Alec knew she was going to be trouble, now he was giving her some leeway. So as agreed, Alec insisted on going into the garage with Rose, daring the traffic officer to say anything and secretly hoping Tess would be early for a change instead of stopping to gossip to other parents outside Daisy's school.

He knew Tess always did it on purpose but she had crossed the line last week when she'd been early and warned Rose, Tess had no right to do so. What had been her point? Had it been she really was trying to get him to refuse to work with the young officer?

As they went up in the lift, Alec was already stuck for something to say, which wasn't going to help him when they got in the office at the same time. Rose's friends had seen Rose disappear through the door as they had come through the front door.

"Did I just see Rose with Hardy?" Jo wanted to know as they passed reception.

"I always thought she dropped him outside," Kate replied.

"Seems we were wrong," Trish laughed. "I bet they're doing it to annoy Tess."

"Well that should be fun," Jo laughed as well.

So for the rest of the week, Alec would continue to call Rose into his office, seeing Tess was trying to ignore the fact and Rose had started taking him a drink when they'd been out, Rose sometimes laughing at something as they'd gone back in. On Friday lunchtime, her friends wanted to know what was going on.

"It's nothing, really," Rose had insisted. "Well he just wanted to annoy Tess a bit."

"That's nothing?" Trish laughed, trying not to look at Tess, who was sat on her own.

Tess was on her own because she'd sent a text to Dave saying she wanted to talk to him. He appeared in the doorway and ignoring Alec looking up from his meal, sat opposite Tess.

"This isn't a good idea Tess," Dave warned her. "What was so urgent then?"

"You've been ignoring me," Tess complained.

"I said to hold off," Dave corrected her. "My wife was getting suspicious, I wanted to throw her off."

"What was I supposed to do?" Tess asked him. "Wait for you to call me?"

Dave was about to get up.

"Meet me after work then," he told her, then he went off.

Tess didn't like being treated like that but Dave had her hooked and he knew it. She had wanted to talk to him but knew he had more than talking in mind. She should break it off before things went too far but she needed him on her side.

Rose had been watching as the others talked.

"Are you with us Rose?" Trish wanted to know.

"What? Oh, yeah. Seems like Tess has fallen out with that detective."

"They were probably arranging something," Jo disagreed. "Be careful what you get involved with Rose."

"Yeah, she's right," Kate agreed.

"Hardy's the one who suggested giving Tess a taste of her own medicine," Rose reminded them. "Besides, he's lightened up a lot this last week."

"That's true," Trish agreed with her. "Looks like going along with him's paid off Rose."

Rose hoped so, it had been hard to judge what he was really like, since he stayed quiet most of the time. There had been awkward silences when they hadn't been discussing the reason they'd been sent out by the chief. At the end of the day, Rose went to ask Alec if he wanted picking up outside as usual.

"No, I will come down with you," he told her as he took his specs off.

"Can I ask ya something?" Rose wanted to know. Alec nodded. "It's just, well before I started taking ya home, ya always stayed behind."

"Don't worry about it," Alec replied. "I only agreed to leaving early as I did not want to keep you working late."

"Oh. Well I wouldn't have minded waiting a while for ya, except now, my mum's comin' for a visit so I can't now," Rose told him.

"Right. Well if I have to stay behind for any reason, I will make other arrangements," Alec decided, getting up and putting his jacket on.

He picked up his phone, letting Rose go out first. He noticed Tess had already left but that was usual for her. Tess was waiting for Dave down in the garage. The traffic officer was watching as Dave joined her.

"Meet me where we went last time," Dave told her as he opened his car doors with the remote. "You do remember where it was?"

"Yes, I remember but I needed to talk to you," Tess reminded him.

"Come on Tess, what's to talk about?" he wanted to know.

"We used to talk at lunchtime," Tess replied. "What's the harm in that?"

"When people pass us in the corridor?" Dave laughed. "Geez Tess."

He got in his car and Tess stood back. She was about to get in her car when Rose came through the door, laughing. Alec was following her.

"So your mother did not want to come down here with you?" Alec had been asking her as they waited for the lift.

"Nah, she didn't want to leave but she's worried about me now," Rose had admitted.

"Why, new boyfriend maybe?" Alec had raised his eyebrows again, making Rose smile.

"No such luck," she had laughed as the lift arrived, with several people already in it.

They had stood side by side, Rose dying to laugh again but waited until they were getting out, followed by Alec and those behind them. Tess had waited for them to pass by to the car Rose was using, seeing if Alec had noticed she was still there. He had but didn't stop by her car to talk to her.

"Right," Tess thought to herself. "If he wants to just ignore me and laugh about something with Rose Tyler, let him."

Alec heard Tess start her car, then screeching the tyres, she went off in a hurry.

"Blimey, what's wrong with her?" Rose asked as she started the car.

"Take no notice," Alec advised her.

"Was she mad ya didn't stop to talk to her?" Rose wondered.

"Don't get involved Rose," he told her as she drove off.

"Excuse me saying but I think I already am," Rose spoke up, since they were outside working hours. "At my last station, everyone was friendly but since I got here, she's gone out of her way to dislike me, without giving me a chance. Sorry, Sir."

"You don't have to call me sir outside work," Alec replied. "There is no need to be sorry Rose, Tess was annoyed the chief stopped us from working together. It did not bother me but she took it badly. The chief was tired of all the complaints. Tess was always arguing when we returned."

"Was that why you wanted us to be talking when we got back from anywhere?" Rose wondered as she stopped at some lights.

Alec didn't reply at first. "Leave it Rose," he insisted, seeing she was glancing at him through the mirror.

He ran his fingers through his hair, Rose thinking he looked tired so she let it rest but it wasn't over as far as she was concerned. She couldn't leave it, her boss was having trouble at home and it affected the way he worked. One thing she had learned was he didn't seem to have that many friends at the station, he was always sitting on his own at lunchtime and even Tess sat elsewhere.

She didn't see anything wrong with him but if he preferred being alone, nothing could be done about it. As she dropped Alec outside his house, she noticed there was only one car in the driveway, as did Alec.

"Night then Sir," Rose told him as he got out.

"Yes, have a good weekend Rose," Alec replied. "Any plans?"

"Just getting ready for my mum's royal visit," Rose laughed. "Extra shopping to get, she'll probably just turn up with no warning."

"See you on Monday then," he told her as he closed the car door.

When Rose got home, she made a list of the extra things she'd need from the supermarket and then made sure the spare room was tidy. It was only a single room but it would be comfortable enough, she had been lucky she'd got an apartment with two bedrooms.

When Alec got inside, he expected Tess had gone to get Daisy early for a change but in the back of his mind, he couldn't help thinking otherwise. Did Rose and her friends already suspect something else? He'd seen them talking at lunch time and had noticed Rose looked miles away. They must have noticed he and Rose had been talking when they'd gone back in the office, even if Tess was trying to ignore them.

Why had Dave Harris stopped to talk to Tess, he wondered. Had they thought he'd not noticed? If he said anything to Tess about it, she would be in a bad mood all weekend. Harris was getting bold though, maybe he should warn the man about it? Would it do any good though?

Jackie had been packing to go spend a few days with Rose and had called her friend Howard from the market to say she'd be away, since he had suddenly started offering to deliver what she bought from his stall on a Saturday. She had wondered if anything was going to come of it but nothing so far.

Rose was a bit surprised when told her mother would be arriving the following afternoon.

"How long are ya staying?" Rose wanted to know.

"Well, that depends," Jackie was telling her. "I mean since you're at work all day? I hope that boss of yours won't keep ya working late?"

"No, he doesn't Mum and if he does work late, he said he'd make other arrangements to get home," Rose assured her.

Tess had followed Dave to the remote spot they met in before and he was already out of his car.

"We'll have to go in your car Tess," he told her as she was about to get out.

"You're kidding Dave," Tess protested.

"If my wife suspects anything, she'll kick me out," Dave insisted. "Haven't you got a blanket in the back?"

Tess huffed and went to the back, bringing out a Tartan cover they'd got on a visit to Scotland when Daisy had been younger, seeing Dave grinning as he held the back door open and taking the blanket from her, spread it on the seat. Then he indicated for her to get in first, looking around the deserted spot to make sure no-one would be likely to wander nearby, even though they had parked behind some bushes that hid their cars from the opposite riverbank. Tess had left her work bag on the front seat and heard her phone ringing, she knew it would be either Daisy or Alec, both would be wanting to know where she was.

"Leave it Tess," Dave insisted as he went to kiss her roughly, fumbling for the zip of his trousers while Tess was trying to get back up.

"Whoever it is will keep trying," she told him.

"Well let them," Dave replied as he unbuttoned her shirt.

Afterwards, while Tess was trying to compose herself, Dave was already sat up.

"We'll have to keep this to once a week Tess," he told her.

"Huh, is that all I'm worth?" Tess was annoyed.

"We can go for a quick drink after work a couple of times," he offered as he watched Tess fasten her shirt buttons. "Maybe a quick snog if we park behind the pub," he then laughed.

Tess dug his side with her elbow.

"Hey, want to play rough?" Dave laughed even louder. "You'd better hope my wife doesn't do an inspection."

"Is she still off you?" Tess replied sarcastically. "You think I don't know why you're having sex with me in the back of a car?"

"Stop complaining Tess," Dave told her, trying to push her down again and put his hand up her shirt.

That had been the first time they'd done it properly and he'd want it that way now, Tess knew.

She tried to resist but he was too fast as he went for the zip of her trousers again. He succeeded and rubbed the top of her underwear and was about to pull both down when her mobile rang again.

"If I don't answer and it's Alec, I'll have some explaining to do," Tess insisted.

"Tell him you're out at the pub with your friends," Dave replied as Tess tried to move his hand.

She couldn't get him to move his hand as he went to lie on her again and kissed her roughly, his other hand trying to pull both her garments down at the front. Tess stopped struggling and went to do the same to him. When they finally got out of the car after getting dressed again, Tess stared at the clock on the dashboard.

"I'll have to call Daisy, she might have called Alec to get her," Tess complained.

"Chill out Tess, I told you what to say. Does Alec know any of your friends?" he asked her.

"Well not really," Tess had to admit.

"There you go then. I'd better go, unless you want another repeat?" Dave grinned.

"Go then," Tess huffed.

"Anyone would think you and Alec don't have sex any more," he laughed as he got out.

Tess felt like throwing something at the jerk, if she'd had anything nearby to throw at him. He was a smug, egotistical, self-centred something beginning with 'B'. He had also pinpointed the problem she had with her husband and she had half a mind to try to put that right over the weekend but Alec would then wonder what she was up to. Not that he didn't already suspect something as she checked her phone and discovered it had been him trying to call her.

She got in the front seat and tried calling him back.

"Where have you been Tess?" Alec wanted to know.

"At the pub, my friends were going so I thought I'd join them," Tess replied, seeing she was still flushed as she looked in the mirror.

Now, she did need a drink before she faced him or Daisy.

"I've been trying to call you and so has Daisy," Alec tried to keep his temper. "Don't bother going for her, I've already been to collect her. You could have said something Tess."

"It was spur of the moment Alec," Tess tried to tell him. "I never heard my phone ringing."

Chapter 6

As Alec ended the call, he was having serious doubts Tess was telling him the truth. Had she really gone to the pub with her friends or had she gone with Dave Harris? He also doubted Tess would admit anything else once she got home.

He'd had a concerned call from Daisy to say Tess had failed to collect her so he'd had to go back out again. He'd not been happy about it and neither had Tess's mother.

"Really Alec, this is getting out of hand, being late to collect Daisy," he had been told as he'd knocked on the kitchen door and let himself in. "If Tess can't get here on time, she should call you and say so."

He couldn't have agreed more.

"Don't worry, I will make sure she gets here on time," Alec assured her, not wanting to say anything about Tess claiming she'd either been here or at her sister's house.

So when Tess had finally called him, he'd not been happy. How would she like it if he were to do the same by going to the pub after work, if that was where she'd really been. He didn't really have anyone to go with though and Rose had said her mother was going to be visiting her so even daring to ask her was out of the question. Why would she want to anyway?

Besides, Rose might take it the wrong way and refuse to work with him and Tess would want to know why. When Tess got home, he didn't say anything to her, she would give herself away eventually.

The next morning, Rose was rushing around preparing for her mother to visit. Jackie had rung to say she was setting off for the railway station, Mickey having offering to take her to save paying for a taxi.

"So is Rose staying there then?" Mickey had asked on the way.

He had been hoping Rose wouldn't like it and would come back.

"Yeah, she seems to like it," Jackie laughed. "She's even got the use of a car already, she has to drive her boss around though."

"What? All the time?" Mickey was getting worried.

"Just at work," Jackie saw the look on his face.

"I hope so," Mickey grumbled. "Did she mention me?" he then wanted to know as they neared the station.

"Don't think so," Jackie replied. "Sorry Micks. She may get homesick though, her new boss's wife doesn't like her and Rose has to work with her.

"Well at least he's married," Mickey mumbled.

"I'll tell her you asked about her," Jackie assured him.

Jackie wondered if Rose had even thought about poor Mickey, the way she went on about her new boss. She hoped Rose hadn't got infatuated with a married man. Rose set off to meet her mother, wondering how much luggage she'd have with her. Knowing her mother liked to make herself at home, she knew there would be plenty and poor Mickey would have been roped in to taking her to catch the train.

Rose waited on the platform and the train from London was announced so she stood back to let people off and so she could spot her mother. Jackie only had two cases with her, since she hadn't decided how long she would be staying. She had been thinking about what Rose had said but she didn't want to work in a salon in London so maybe she'd see what was on offer while on her visit.

"Mum," Rose shouted and waved as Jackie stood in the doorway and she made her way there.

"Rose! Help me with my cases sweetheart," Jackie laughed as she picked one up and Rose took it, wondering how much was in there since it was heavy.

Jackie stepped down and attempted to pick up the other one while struggling with a big shoulder bag so a man also waiting to get off handed it to her.

"Oh thanks," Jackie blushed as he put it on the platform.

"Any time dear lady," the man smiled as Jackie blushed some more.

"What a charming bloke," Jackie stared after him.

Rose began to wonder if her mother had given up on the blokes around the estate and wanted to try her luck here.

"Mum," Rose laughed. "Well give me a hug then."

After calling at the supermarket again to get her mother a few things, they arrived at Rose's apartment and Rose hoped her mother wouldn't complain about the size of the bedroom or else she'd have to give up the larger one.

"It's fine sweetheart," Jackie told her when Rose opened the door. "I don't expect ya to give up your room."

Rose did wonder if her mother would change her mind, depending on how long she was here.

"Well, I half expected it," Rose laughed. "I was thinking of maybe treating ya to Sunday lunch tomorrow, to say welcome."

"Ya don't have to do that sweetheart," her mother assured her.

"Well, I get half the rent paid and I got a pay rise so yeah, I want to treat ya," Rose replied.

Jackie finally agreed and went to unpack, Rose wondering how she'd get all her things in the wardrobe. Knowing her mother, she'd need one the size of Narnia or one bigger on the inside.

"Rose, are ya sure someone else is okay to stay with ya?" Jackie called after Rose.

"It's fine Mum, there wouldn't have been two bedrooms if not. I did mention it when I asked about renting somewhere anyway. Why, are ya thinking about staying?" Rose wanted to know.

"Well, I don't know yet do I?" her mother laughed. "Depends if all the blokes are like the one who help me with my case."

They both laughed and Rose went off to make drinks and a sandwich for her mother, since Jackie had complained she couldn't get anything on the train and Mickey had cut it fine getting to the station. It hadn't given her enough time to call at the food stand in the forecourt.

"Micks asked about ya," Jackie told her when Rose went back with the tea and sandwich.

"Did he?" Rose mused. "I thought he would've moved on by now."

"Don't say that Rose, he was really down when he found out ya were moving away," Jackie reminded her. "He still hopes that ya go back to work in London sometimes."

"Well Mum, even if I do, I've got past that phase in my life, I'm older now. Did he expect me to stay with him after what happened?" Rose replied.

"Well he thought ya were gonna be at that police college a lot longer," Jackie defended him.

"I told him how long I'd be there Mum," Rose disagreed. "Anyway, I grew up a hell of a lot while I was there and I never promised Mickey anything."

"I know ya never had much to do with him, after he started going out with someone else," Jackie admitted.

"Yeah, Trisha Delaney, of all people. He never even used to like her 'til she went on a diet," Rose complained. "He blamed it all on me going away Mum, was I supposed to stay on the estate doing a dead-end job?"

"I've worked in shops," Jackie reminded her.

"I never meant it like that Mum. I just wanted to do something better, to help people especially after all those weird goings-on," Rose smiled at the thought.

"We got an explanation from the authorities," Jackie replied.

"Seriously Mum," Rose burst out laughing. "Shop window dummies coming to life, in the basement of the store I worked it, then the place blew up? I was lucky to get out of there ya know?"

"Yeah, that was a bit weird I suppose," Jackie had to agree. "I know they blamed it all on students, they always do."

"Well forget about that and Mickey Smith," Rose went to give her mother another hug. "Well tell me the latest gossip then."

Jackie Tyler never missed an opportunity to bring Rose up to speed on what was going on in the Powell Estate. From who was going out with who, who was pregnant or getting engaged, Jackie knew it all.

Alec's day had been less agreeable than Rose's had been. Tess and Daisy had gone off into town and insisted on getting the shopping on her own so Alec had left them to it but not before Tess had started an argument for no reason at all.

"You know you never want to go the same places as I do Alec," Tess had reminded him. "Besides, Daisy wanted something so she can come with me. Really Alec, do we have to go shopping together all the time?"

"Fine," Alec replied, as he couldn't be bothered arguing with her.

"You seem to manage without me during the week," Tess added sarcastically. "I saw you and Rose Tyler laughing about something as you were leaving last night."

"Really? I'm surprised you had time to notice Tess, since you went off in a hurry," he retaliated.

"Well you walked right past me without saying anything," Tess huffed.

"Oh, so I was supposed to stop and say something to you? How was I to know you were going to be late home huh?" he wanted to know.

"You never asked," Tess replied. "You were too busy."

"I give up," Alec decided.

"That's just typical of you Alec," Tess told him as she walked off. "You're more bothered about her."

He wanted to say she was more bothered about Dave Harris but he had no actual proof. He could hardly ask Tess's mother or sister if she'd actually been staying to talk to them without questions being asked and it getting back to Tess. Then there would be even more arguments.

Maybe he should listen for any gossip going around the station? He could always ask Rose to listen out, he supposed, she might go along with it but she might also think she shouldn't be interfering.

The next day, Rose chose a nice pub to treat her mother to Sunday lunch but little did she know that Tess had decided to also visit the same one, telling Alec that she wanted to go out for Sunday lunch for a change.

"Do I have to go?" Daisy was wanting to know when told to change into something more appropriate for a pub restaurant than the torn jeans and band t-shirt she'd put on.

"Yes," Alec told her firmly. "You are not old enough to be left on your own and make a decent meal for yourself."

Daisy went off in a huff, Alec daring her to object again.

"Why do you always make me out to be the bad guy?" he asked Tess when Daisy had gone to her room. "You could have said something."

"Why? You were doing a good job," Tess replied as she checked herself in the mirror.

Tess had been hoping that Dave might have gone there as well, since it was near where he lived but if his wife was with him, she'd have to be careful.

Rose and her mother had arrived and shown to a table near the window,

"Blimey, this is posh," Jackie remarked as she looked around.

"Anywhere's posher than where you always go Mum," Rose laughed as she handed a menu over. "Pick anything ya like, my treat."

"Well okay, if ya sure?" Jackie wanted to check before she dared look at the prices. "I think I'll just have the Sunday lunch special though. Looks like they do the full works."

Rose ordered two when the waitress came over plus some drinks. Over at the other entrance, Alec was asking for a table for three and Daisy was complaining it was too fancy.

"Why did we have to come here Mum?" she complained.

"Blame your dad, he chose this place," Tess told her.

"Excuse me, you said you didn't want to go too far," Alec reminded her as they were seated.

"Oh please don't start arguing you two," Daisy told them.

"I'm just going to pop to the ladies room," Tess decided, getting up.

She really wanted to check if Dave was in the bar but what could she do even if he was? She felt like she was Daisy's age having a crush on someone. Jackie had also decided to pay a visit while they waited for their meals to arrive.

"I won't be long," Jackie told Rose cheerfully. "I saw the sign on the way in."

Rose smiled as her mother went off but as she looked around, she was sure she had seen Tess. What would she be doing there, she wondered. That meant she wasn't there alone and she prayed Tess wouldn't notice her but sitting by the window, she would be in full view when Tess returned.

Then she was horrified to think her mother would start talking in the ladies room and blurt out who she was with.

"These toilets are posh," Jackie remarked as Tess followed her in.

"I suppose so? I've not been here before, my husband chose the place," Tess replied, wondering why anyone would think the toilets were posh.

Jackie went to the basins once she was out, Tess just behind her.

"I'm here with my daughter, she moved to the town recently. Thought I'd pay her a visit," Jackie told the stranger, never occurring to her that this was the woman Rose had been complaining about. "She's treating me."

Tess quickly excused herself before getting into further conversation. Since she'd not actually heard what Rose had been saying to Alec on the Friday afternoon, she had no idea who she had just been talking to though she did recognise the accent but since she'd never said much to Rose, didn't associate them.

Alec was thinking Tess was taking her time, since he was waiting to order and Daisy was nibbling on the breadsticks looking bored. Why had he agreed to come out? Tess was clearly in one of her moods, which she always seemed to be these days. At least they no longer went to Tess's mother's for Sunday lunch, like they did when Daisy was younger.

Alec could see out into the car park from where he was sitting and was sure he recognised the car Rose had been using parked there. She had said her mother was going to be visiting so she might have been having lunch here. He was just looking around when Tess was hurrying to the table.

"Checking up where I was?" Tess asked him, Daisy rolling her eyes.

"Do I need to?" Alec replied, indicating for her to look at the menu.

"Just order the Sunday roast Alec," Tess waved the menu away. "Why were you waiting for me, you could have just ordered and saved time. Now we'll have to wait, it's getting busy."

Alec thought since the pub was out of the way, it would be popular with no other pubs around.

"Well Daisy wants something else," Alec told her.

"She would," Tess turned to Daisy. "Don't eat all those."

"Mum, they're put there to eat," Daisy complained as Tess moved the breadsticks away.

Alec just shook his head and thought they'd stay home next Sunday, even if it meant he had to do the cooking. Anything was better than both Daisy and Tess in a mood. He caught a passing waitress and taking off his specs placed their orders, Daisy being fussy about what she wanted.

"Daisy, it's not polite to pick and choose," Tess reminded her. "Tell her Alec."

Alec had been distracted by a blonde woman who seemed to have followed Tess back into the dining area but who was looking around then seeing someone waving.

"You never got lost," Rose laughed as her mother sat down.

"Bloomin' place is big and it's got busier," Jackie complained. "Have you ever seen such a big dining area?"

"Well it has got a bit busier but it's bound to Mum," Rose replied. "I'm not sure but I think I just saw Tess, ya know, my boss's wife just before you came back." Then she saw her mother's face. "Mum, ya never talked to her? Tell me you didn't."

"Well I didn't know who she was, did I?" Jackie defended herself.

"Well what did ya say?" Rose wanted to know so she could limit the damage the next day at work if Tess bothered to say anything.

"I might have said I thought the loo was posh," Jackie blushed.

"Ya never?" Rose couldn't believe her mother would tell such a thing to a stranger. "Mum. Well if she's here, so is my boss."

Rose looked around cautiously and prayed he wouldn't see her but Tess had probably thought she was there anyway, the woman was paranoid.

"I bet Rose Tyler's here," Tess said to no-one in particular as Daisy was looking at the dessert menu, since the breadsticks were out of her reach.

"Give it a rest Tess," Alec told her. "Why would she be?"

"Are you sure you just picked this pub at random?" Tess replied.

"Don't fight you two," Daisy reminded them. "Mum, why would someone dad works with be here?"

"Exactly," Alec agreed as their drinks arrived.

"I wouldn't be surprised and besides, I just met a woman with a London accent in the ladies room," Tess seemed pleased with herself at putting Alec on the spot.

"So, what of it?" Alec wanted to know, wishing he didn't have to drink the watered down lager but Tess would never agree to swap her drinks so she could drive them home.

"She sounded common," Tess continued. "She remarked about the ladies room being posh, of all things."

Daisy started to laugh but Alec scowled at her, not wanting the girl to encourage Tess any further.

"Can't you leave it Tess, not even while we are out?" Alec told her.

"Oh, you weren't looking for me coming back, were you Alec?" Tess accused him. "You were looking to see if she was here."

"Why were you so long in the ladies room then? Looking for Dave Harris were you?" Alec replied instead of falling into her trap.

"Mum, Dad?" Daisy looked at both of them. "What's going on?"

"Nothing is going on," Alec tried to assure her. "Is there Tess?"

"Well not on my part," Tess tried to deny.

"Nor mine, you have a very suspicious mind Tess," Alec told her. "I was looking for you coming back so we could order," he reminded her.

"If you say so Alec," Tess replied, not satisfied with his explanation.

Who was he kidding, she thought as she took a drink. Of course that was Rose Tyler's mother in the ladies room, anyone local wouldn't have called the ladies room posh. Besides, she was sure she heard her saying about her mother visiting while she and Alec had passed by on Friday night now she thought about it.

She bet anything Tyler had even told Alec where she was taking her mother today and Alec had chosen this pub on purpose. Well if he wanted to play that game, then so would she. She wasn't going to feel so guilty about Dave and she was going to ignore the pair of them from now on when they came back into the office. See how Alec liked that.

"So, that was Tess?" Jackie was asking Rose as they ate. "She seemed a right stuck-up cow."

Rose would have burst out laughing and agreed with her mother, if she'd not had a mouthful and could only nod in agreement. Yes, her mother had got it in one. She was feeling more and more sorry for her boss, who had to put up with Tess not only at work but at home. She wondered how long he'd be able to do that.

Chapter 7

After ordering dessert since her mother seemed to want the whole works, Rose asked for the check as her mother went off to the ladies room again. Rose got up to follow her and got her bank card out to pay at the desk, seeing Tess and who must be their daughter go in the direction her mother had gone.

There were a few people waiting to pay and Rose wished they'd hurry up as she could do with paying a visit to the ladies room herself. She thought she'd have to hang on until Tess was safely out of the pub, she didn't fancy coming face to face with her on a Sunday, it was bad enough during the week at work.

"Well, I'm surprised to see you here," a Scottish voice behind her almost spoke in her ear and a hand tapped her shoulder.

Rose turned around as she stepped forward towards the desk.

"Sir?" Rose wasn't that surprised, she was sure Tess had seen her drive into the car park and told Alec to do the same.

"It's Sunday, you can call me Alec," he almost laughed. "So, that was your mother Tess met in the ladies room then?"

"She told ya?" Rose was sure Tess had just followed her mother again on purpose. "Geez, what can I say?"

"Nothing, you know what Tess is like?" Alec reminded her. "I hope you warned your mother if they met again?"

"She knew without me telling her," Rose smiled while the man in front got to the desk.

"Tess didn't want to go far but she then said I'd chosen this place on purpose when she realised that was your mother she met. Sorry."

"It's not your fault," Rose told him, really wishing the man in front would hurry but not wanting to be rude to her boss.

"That makes a change," Alec replied, being used to getting blamed for everything in the eyes of Tess.

"Was that your daughter with her?" Rose asked him, thinking what a stupid question, who else would it have been?

"Ah, yes, that's Daisy," Alec admitted, seeing the man in front of Rose move away and nodded to Rose.

Rose realised and stepped forward, handing the piece of paper over and waiting to pay.

While he waited, Alec mused that it had been less boring a visit due to the fact Rose's mother had annoyed Tess without her knowing it at the time. He bet the woman was giving Tess a hard time even now. He saw Rose getting her receipt and then she hurried off in the direction of the ladies room and hoped she didn't come face to face with Tess.

Tess had been insufferable throughout lunch, more than she normally was he thought as he handed over the check to pay. Tess had kept to the low prices but Daisy had outdone herself this time, going for the most expensive dessert.

In the ladies room, Jackie had been surprised at Tess following her in, since there had been a sudden rush and they had to wait.

"Oh, is that your daughter?" Jackie asked innocently. "I'm here with mine, did I say? She's in the police, just got promoted."

She didn't want to come right out and say who her daughter was.

"That would be Rose Tyler then?" Tess replied, looking at herself in the mirror.

"Is that the new officer you go on about Mum?" Daisy wanted to know.

"Daisy," Tess warned the girl.

"That's a nice name," Jackie remarked, moving aside to let a woman to the basins and moving forward one space. "Fancy that, you having a daughter with the name of a flower and working with one. Wish they'd hurry up in there," she added so everyone could hear.

Tess tried to ignore the woman, fussing over Daisy.

"Mum," the girl objected when Tess went for her hair, as if to warn her not to embarrass her in front of everyone.

Jackie was glad she was next in line as someone else came out of a cubicle.

"Ya'd think they'd have more than three," Jackie remarked. "In a place like this. Bet blokes don't have to queue up," she then laughed, getting a smile out of Daisy, who found it amusing that her mother was trying to ignore the fact that the officer she complained about constantly was in the same pub, let alone meet her mother.

"Are you from London?" Daisy asked innocently.

"Yeah, I just came for a visit but I might stay," Jackie replied, seeing Tess's face.

Tess hoped the woman wasn't being serious as Jackie disappeared.

"What?" Daisy asked as Tess scowled at her.

"Don't encourage her," Tess whispered back.

That just made Daisy worse as the girl tried not to laugh.

Just then, Rose tried to squeeze into the room as someone moved away from the door.

"Just what I needed," Rose complained as she saw three or four women in front of her.

"Yes, you would think there would be more cubicles," the woman who had moved replied. "They don't think about the lunchtime patrons."

Tess was trying to ignore Rose but Daisy turned around and saw a blonde.

"Is that her?" she whispered to Tess.

"Leave it, don't turn around," Tess whispered her reply.

"Can I go first Mum?" Daisy then asked as another woman came out.

She didn't wait for a reply and dived in before Tess could stop her, who was glad someone else then came out and that Rose had not spoken to her. That left the woman who had talked to Rose as Jackie finally came out.

"Rose!" Jackie greeted her. "Have ya been waitin' long?"

"It's fine Mum, don't worry about it," Rose told her, hoping she'd get away before Tess came out. "Just wait in the doorway for me, unless ya want the car keys?"

"Blimey, no," Jackie laughed as she shook her hands to dry them as Rose moved so she could get to the hand dryer. "I'll probably set the alarm off."

"Yeah, knowing you," Rose laughed. "Typical there's no queue now."

"Well ya should have gone earlier," Jackie told her.

"I had to go pay Mum," Rose reminded her.

She thought it best not to say she had been talking to her boss while waiting. Jackie went off as Daisy came out and Rose dived in before Tess emerged. Daisy could only stare as Rose closed the cubicle door and locked it. Tess came out and told her to hurry up.

"Come on Daisy, stop playing with your hair," Tess warned her as Daisy had got her hairbrush out of the shoulder bag. "Your father will be getting tired of waiting."

"It wasn't my fault there was a queue Mum," Daisy replied, putting the brush away.

"If you had tied your hair back, you wouldn't have to brush it," Tess reminded her.

Rose could just about hear them as she was about to leave but it was too late to stay behind the door as she unlocked it without thinking. She prayed they would leave as she emerged but as Tess was turning to leave, she heard a door opening. Rose went to the wash basins and tried not to look at Tess, whom Daisy was trying to grab hold of to drag her out.

"Come on Mum," the girl urged her.

"Don't think I don't know," Tess said to Rose as Rose glanced through the mirror.

"Excuse me?" Rose replied, not wanting a confrontation.

"You know what I mean, you bringing your mother here," Tess replied, ignoring Daisy.

"Where I bring my mum has nothing to do with anyone," Rose told Tess bluntly. "You can't order me around outside work ya know?"

"Really," Tess huffed. "Don't deny it, you knew we were coming here today."

"No, I never," Rose defended herself. "How would I know that?"

"You told Alec your mother was visiting, I heard you talking as you passed me on Friday night. Alec ignored me because he was talking to you," Tess stood her ground as Daisy tried to move her again.

She stopped when the woman who had been in front of Rose finally came out of the cubicle.

"Sorry, can I get to the basins?" the woman looked at the two of them. "Trouble?" she then asked Rose.

"No, not on my part," Rose replied as she pushed the button for the dryer, hoping Tess would take the hint.

Daisy gave up and went out to find Alec, who was now talking to Jackie as she'd seen him watching the door to the ladies room.

"Are you Rose's boss?" she'd asked him as she'd gone out to wait for Rose.

"Ah, yes. You would be her mother? I hope you enjoy your visit Mrs Tyler."

"Oh, call me Jackie," she laughed. "I met your wife in there, I hope she's not caught poor Rose," Jackie told him. "I mean I bet Rose gets bossed around at work by her?"

"Rose works with me, not my wife," Alec replied. "She's a good officer, she's been taught well. Why what did Tess say?"

"Nothing about Rose, good thing as well," Jackie told him as Daisy joined them.

"This is my daughter, Daisy. Daisy, this is DC Tyler's mother," Alec introduced them.

"I saw her in there," Daisy nodded to the ladies room. "Dad, mum was starting an argument with Rose is it?"

"She what?" Alec wanted to know. "Tell me she's not."

"Something about choosing the same pub," Daisy admitted.

"I'd best go back in and rescue her," Jackie told them. "Hope they're not fighting."

Alec could only watch as Jackie went back towards the ladies room, as the other woman came out.

"Are you with that younger woman in there?" Jackie was asked. "I think she needs rescuing, that older woman's having a real go at her, she's blocking the door."

"She is, is she?" Jackie went all serious. "I'll see about that."

"Do you want me to get the manager, in case of any real trouble?" the woman asked, seeing Alec approaching.

"What is going on in there?" Alec wanted to know, Daisy holding onto him.

"Do something Dad," Daisy urged him. "You know what mum's like, especially lately."

"Are you that woman's husband?" he was asked. "I'd go get the manager or something if I were you."

"I'm with the police," Alec admitted, going for his ID. "Jackie, will you check on them for me?"

"Yes Sir," Jackie obeyed him without questioning him as he seemed to have taken over.

Jackie shook her head, wondering what had just come over her as she tried to push the door open, getting some resistance.

"Admit it Tyler," Tess was going on at Rose. "You told him you were coming here. He ignored me because he was arranging it with you."

"That's rubbish," Rose was arguing. "Why would I do that? I was bringing my mum out as a treat, I've not seen her since I moved here."

"Yes and when you got here, you got yourself partnered with my husband. The chief did it just to spite me," Tess argued back.

"I was told I was being partnered with him to get the experience I need so I can put in for my sergeant's exam, that's all. What's wrong with you? You've been against me since I got here. What have ya been sayin' about me anyway? I saw ya talking to someone in the corridor a while ago.

"I wasn't talking about you," Tess hissed back.

Now Rose knew the things her friends had been coming out with were true.

"Good, I hope ya don't. Excuse me, my mum's waitin' for me," Rose tried to get past Tess, who was rooted to the floor and determined to have it out with the young officer while she had caught her.

"You can deny it all you want, I know you're up to something," Tess accused her.

"I'm not up to anything," Rose insisted. "I never arranged anything, he was asking about my mum, maybe he never even saw ya as we passed your car? Did ya ask him about it?"

"He'll just deny everything," Tess replied as Rose tried to dodge her again and grab the door handle.

Rose saw someone was trying to push the door open but Tess never moved.

"I'll get proof, I'll be watching the two of you," Tess told Rose. "Don't think you'll get away with it."

Rose laughed. "Get away with what?" she asked. "Say it all ya want, it won't make it true."

"Won't it?" Tess was determined to have the last word as Jackie pushed even harder, making Tess move this time.

Alec had been about to knock on the door himself and call Tess to come out.

"Why are they in there arguing Dad?" Daisy wanted to know as she saw Jackie trying to get in the ladies room. "What's going on?"

"That's what I want to know," Jackie agreed. "Why is your wife having a go in there at my daughter?"

"I would like to know that myself," Alec told her as the door gave way and Jackie gave one final push. "Tess," he shouted through the gap.

"Mum," Daisy also called out.

Tess had turned around to leave but came face to face with an angry Jackie Tyler.

"Oi you, what ya arguing with Rose about?" Jackie wanted to know as Tess tried to get past.

"Leave it Mum," Rose insisted.

"Tess? What was all that about?" Alec asked Tess as she joined him.

"You know what it's about Alec," Tess pushed past him, leaving him baffled.

He shook his head and was about to turn around as Rose came out.

"Are you okay?" he asked her, seeing she looked a bit shaken.

"I'm fine, thanks. Come on Mum, let's go home," Rose replied.

"I'm sorry, I have no idea what all that was about," Alec apologised.

Rose wanted to say it was about him but he might take it the wrong way. She thought he must have some idea anyway.

"Well I want to know," Jackie told them as they stared at each other.

"Forget it Mum," Rose insisted. "See ya in the morning Sir."

Alec thought she was being cautious not calling him Alec outside work and given the circumstances. He was going to get answers from Tess when they got home. He followed Rose and her mother out, Daisy taking his arm.

"What's wrong with Mum?" Daisy was confused. "I've never seen her as bad as that. Is it all over Rose?"

"I don't know Daisy. Your mum has never liked her since she arrived and I have no idea why," Alec replied, seeing a furious Tess standing by the car.

Tess was furious because Rose had gone to the other side of the car park, she knew Alec had been able to see into it from where they were sitting. So he had planned it then, she thought as she saw him and Daisy approaching.

"So why did you park here?" Tess wanted to know as he unlocked the car doors with the remote. "Couldn't find her car?" she hissed as Daisy got in the back. "Thought she'd backed out of your little arrangement?"

He saw the smirk on her face.

"Stop it Tess, I am not arguing with you, I am surprised you would confront Rose like that, in a public place. What is wrong with you?"

"You really want to know?" Tess snapped back at him as he reversed the car to get out.

Of course, he just had to be behind Rose's car as she waited to exit.

"So, does she live near us then?" Tess continued as Rose happened to turn the same way they were going.

"How would I know where she lives?" Alec wanted to know.

"You probably accessed her file when she became your DC," Tess replied sarcastically.

Alec glanced in the mirror to see Daisy had put her headphones on and was messing with her phone, thankfully. At least she seemed to have taken his side in all this, Tess had really shown them up today, in fact he thought she had excelled herself.

"Give it a rest Tess," he told her as they turned off from where Rose was going.

"Not following her then?" Tess continued her sarcasm.

Alec was determined he wasn't going to take the bait. Now, he had to apologise properly to Rose and her mother for Tess's behaviour. She really had gone too far this time.

Jackie had been quiet until they were nearly back at Rose's apartment.

"Well, she was a real piece of work," Jackie laughed. "What did she say to ya?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Rose insisted.

"Don't give me that," her mother told her. "I can tell she upset ya, even ya boss was concerned for ya, which means he knew what it would be about. So come on, tell me."

Once back at the apartment, Jackie made some tea and insisted Rose told her what had been going on.

"Well how bloomin' stupid is that?" Jackie had to laugh when Rose had told her. "Is she paranoid everyone's after her husband? Mind you, he's a bit of a charmer if ya ask me."

"Mum!" Rose had to laugh.

"Well he is and a good looker if ya ask me. She's a bit insecure then?" Jackie wondered.

"Seems like only where I'm concerned," Rose admitted. "I get on really well with him and well, she was working with him but the chief said he was always getting complaints they were arguing all the time and split them up. I just arrived at the wrong time."

"Well maybe that's it then?" Jackie wondered. "What's got her all riled up today then?"

"I told ya, she thought we'd arranged to go to the same pub for lunch but we did no such thing," Rose admitted.

"Well ya did nothing wrong then," Jackie decided. "That's her problem."

"If only," Rose sighed as she drank the remains of her tea.

"He'll tell her to back off, won't he?" Jackie asked.

"He's tried Mum. Well if she thinks she's gonna get rid of me, she can think again," Rose replied. "I'm gonna finish my training whether she likes it or not."

"That's my Rose," her mother laughed.

When Tess and Alec got home, Daisy went straight to her room, knowing her parents would start arguing. She had been embarrassed when her mother had shown them up in the ladies room. Alec had gone into the lounge and put the TV on the find the news channel.

"Stop ignoring me Alec," Tess complained as she stood in the doorway. "Why did you ignore me on Friday night? I'll tell you why."

"Whatever you think Tess, it had nothing to do with Rose, so leave her out of it," he warned her. "I was only asking about her mother's visit. What did you want me to say to you?"

"I can think of a few things," Tess replied. "Like asking if I was going to pick Daisy up or if I was going out with friends."

"Such as Dave Harris?" Alec turned around to face her.

"I told you who I was with Alec," Tess denied it.

"You should have said you were not going to get Daisy," he reminded her.

"Would you have taken any notice Alec?" Tess scoffed. "You were too busy talking with her, remember?"

Alec ignored her remark and went back to watching the news. He had no doubts that Tess was covering up the fact she was meeting Dave Harris, that was why she was trying to make it out that he was spending time with Rose and why she'd started accusing him of following her to a pub.

So, that was her little game? Was she having an affair with Harris or was the man just stringing her along? It was a well known fact the man was a womaniser, Tess was just his latest victim, only she didn't know it yet. The man would string her along until he got tired of her and dumped her.

Chapter 8

Tess had been furious that Alec was denying he'd followed Rose Tyler until she had turned off the main road and that he'd denied he knew where she lived. Tyler had only been using her mother's visit as an excuse, no doubt they would 'bump' into her again if they went out again.

She went upstairs and knocked on Daisy's room door.

"What Mum?" the almost teenager asked. "Don't ask me to take sides," she added before she was asked.

"I wasn't going to," Tess denied. "What did your father say when you went to find him?"

Daisy thought if that wasn't being asked to take her mother's side, then nothing was.

"He was talking to Rose's mother," Daisy replied. "Can't you just leave it Mum? Dad said he didn't choose that pub on purpose."

"You're taking his side," Tess told her.

"Mum, I told you, I'm not taking sides," Daisy reminded her. "Can't we even go out now?"

With that, Daisy closed the door before Tess could say any more. Alec knew she'd gone upstairs to try to get Daisy on her side but doubted she would.

Rose had tried to put the whole thing behind her, the last thing she needed was Tess starting on her the following morning so she hoped her boss would keep his promise to handle it. The next morning, she set off to pick Alec up as he was getting ready to leave. Tess was trying to get Daisy to hurry up.

"Daisy, you'll be late," Tess shouted to her again. "Alec, get her to hurry up."

"Why ask me?" Alec wanted to know.

"She seems to take more notice of you these days," Tess replied.

Alec shook his head and picked up his phone and keys.

"Well you should be more firm with her," he told her. "When you get to the office, stay away from Rose."

"You're defensive of her all of a sudden Alec," Tess replied sarcastically. "What's with calling her Rose all the time?"

Alec didn't reply as his mobile rang and saw it was Rose.

"Morning Sir," Rose greeted him as he got in the car.

"Yes," he just replied at first. "I can't apologise enough for Tess yesterday."

"It's okay, really," Rose insisted, seeing Tess come out of the side door.

Tess was staring as she ushered Daisy into the car.

"Mum, what are you doing?" Daisy wanted to know as Tess watched Rose driving off.

"Nothing. You should have hurried like I told you to, I'll be cutting it fine getting to work now," Tess complained as she reversed the car.

"We're no later than usual Mum," Daisy pointed out as she looked at the clock. "Did you want to get to work before dad did?"

"Don't be cheeky," Tess replied, knowing Daisy was on to her.

"You did!" the girl laughed. "Why?"

Tess refused to answer but Daisy smiled all the way to school.

"Please be on time tonight Mum," she told Tess as she got out of the car.

Rose was relieved she'd beaten Tess to work as they got out of the car.

"Hey Rose," she heard a voice calling her.

It was her friend Kate getting out of a car.

"Like my new car? I got it on Saturday. No more catching the bus. I'm just off to see if I can get a proper parking space instead of in the unreserved spaces. I'd heard you sometimes have to fight for one," Kate laughed.

Alec had gone on ahead, leaving Rose to talk to her friend. He'd wanted to say more to her, how could he make up for Tess's behaviour the day before? He'd had a feeling Tess had wanted to make more of it before he'd left home but she had better not start once in the office.

"There was already a reserved space for this car," Rose told her friend.

"Yeah, lucky you, driving your boss's fancy car," Kate laughed. "Wait until I tell the girls about the car."

"Yeah, they'll be surprised," Rose agreed, seeing Alec disappear through the door to go for the lift. "Oh, watch out for the sergeant over there. I had to be rescued when I first started coming down here," she warned her friend.

Rose went off and had to wait for the lift, knowing Alec would already be in his office. What could she say to him? Something needed to be done about the hostility she was getting from Tess and she didn't want to have to make it an official complaint and get the chief involved. If things got worse though, she would have to seriously think about it.

She'd just have to trust that her boss could handle it like he'd promised. All she wanted was to do her training and then see what happened, whether she'd stay or go back to London or even somewhere else. That all depended what her mother wanted to do. She made some drinks and went to Alec's office.

"Sit down Rose," he told her as she put the mugs on his desk. "Look, if Tess gives you any trouble at all today, come and tell me, then I can reprimand her and trust me, her being my wife won't stop me. That's the best I can do, sorry. Outside of work, all I can do is try and keep her away from you in future."

"Ya mean if ya don't choose the same pub next Sunday?" Rose smiled as she took a drink.

"I am glad you have taken it so well," he had to admit.

"What else can I do?" Rose replied. "I had to explain it all to my mum and trust me, that wasn't easy."

"I am sorry Tess showed you up in front of her and that other woman," Alec told her.

"I tried to avoid her, really I did," Rose apologised.

"Don't go taking the blame, Tess was determined to make something of it," Alec admitted.

"She said that we'd arranged it all on Friday night, 'cos you walked past her and ignored her," Rose explained.

"Ah, that maybe explains it then?" he wondered, since he'd not been taking much notice when he confronted Tess the day before. "She mentioned something about it. I only got her side," he managed a smile.

He suddenly changed his expression when he saw Tess arrive at her desk. It was strange, he knew how long it took to get Daisy to school, so Tess had either been taking her time talking to other parents or to Dave Harris.

"I'd best get to work," Rose realised as she saw him looking into the outer office. "I'll try to stay away from her."

"Yes, that would be wise," he told her as she got up.

"She might think we're in here plotting something else," Rose laughed.

Alec thought she wasn't far wrong, knowing what Tess was like recently. Rose had decided she wasn't going to tell her friends what had happened the day before, in case she was overheard, especially by Tess. She didn't want it going around the station, since her friends knew more people than she did.

Now, she bet anything that seeing Tess with that other detective, she was trying to cover something up by putting the blame on her husband and using herself as a scapegoat. Yes, putting the blame elsewhere seemed like something the woman would try.

"Hey Rose," Trish called her over. "Trouble?" she nodded to Alec's office.

"No, no trouble," Rose assured her friend. "Just talking. He doesn't say much on the way in really," she used the excuse.

Well that was mostly true, Rose thought as she went to her desk. He usually waited until they were nearly at work before he said much. She had a feeling that was going to change though. Surely he wasn't going to take all that rubbish from Tess and if he wanted to do something about it, she would be glad to help him.

Alec was trying to catch up with what had gone on over the weekend, knowing Tess would find some excuse to ask why Rose was in his office but he wasn't going to take the bait. He had to think of a way to get back at her and he thought Rose would now be willing to help him.

Tess had just managed to catch Dave before he'd disappeared.

"What do you expect Tess?" he'd laughed when she told him what Alec had done the day before. "I've seen that blonde he's working with, she's not bad."

"Dave, I saw him arranging it on Friday night before I left," Tess was annoyed with him.

"Let him Tess, the more you go on at him, the more he'll do it," Dave had told her.

"Thanks for your sympathy," Tess huffed. "I can't just ignore it."

"That's exactly what you should do Tess. By the way, I can't meet you for the next few nights, my wife got suspicious again, I tried to tell her I was just out with some mates but she'll be clock watching. She made me take her out for lunch yesterday," he laughed.

"Well I never saw you at that pub you live near," Tess replied.

"She wanted to go somewhere else. Why, is that where you went?" Dave asked her. "You weren't looking for me?"

"Why would I do that? I told you, Alec arranged it with his little blonde DC, to meet her there. Bet he didn't know her mother was going to be with her," Tess almost laughed.

Dave had let out a laugh as someone passed them, Tess hitting his arm.

"So, what did you do about it?" Dave had asked, putting his hand on the wall and leaning over her.

"I confronted her, in the ladies room," Tess tried to be serious. "What else was I supposed to do? She denied it of course, well she would. Then Alec had a go at me."

"You're priceless Tess, you really are," Dave laughed.

With that, he'd walked off, still laughing as he'd pictured the two women having a cat fight in the ladies room. His money was on the blonde. So Tess had been annoyed at him for giving her the brush-off for the rest of the week.

Tess was in even worse a mood as she went off to her office. That meant she either had to collect Daisy on time or really get her friends to go for a drink after work. She didn't even know if they went out after work, she would have to casually mention it at lunchtime and if they weren't going out, it meant she'd have to be on time for Daisy.

Later that morning, Rose and Alec had to go out and Alec thought if he was going to enlist Rose's help, he'd best do it sooner rather than later. So before they drove back to the station he stopped her starting the car.

"Sir?" Rose wondered what was going on.

"We are not in the station," Alec reminded her. "I wanted to talk to you. Rose, if you have heard anything about Tess, anything at all such as your friends saying anything, you would tell me?"

"Yeah, I suppose so? I mean they do say things but I didn't want to get involved," Rose admitted. "Sorry."

"I can understand that," Alec replied. "You thought Tess would blame you for starting any rumours?"

"Well yeah, I didn't know what she'd do," Rose told him.

"It's fine Rose, really," Alec assured her. "Remember how I said not to stop talking when we go back into the office? Have your friends said anything about it?" he wondered.

"I told them we were just winding her up," Rose admitted. "Why?"

"So they believed you?" Alec wanted to be sure before he asked her anything else. Rose nodded. "Then can I suggest something more? You can say no."

"Well, depends what it is?" Rose was curious. "I suppose we could stretch it a bit?"

"Yes, that was the idea," Alec had to admit. "Nothing to start rumours ourselves," Alec further assured her. "You can tell your friends."

"I'd have to," Rose smiled at the thought. "They'd go along with it, they think it's amusing but Tess doesn't seem to think so."

"That's true," Alec agreed. "She was furious over yesterday, she even tried to get our daughter on her side. She failed however."

"Aw, I think your daughter's sweet," Rose told him. "She was even laughing at Tess picking an argument in the ladies. She asked if I was from London."

"Daisy came out to tell me Tess had started a fight," Alec smiled. "I was talking to your mother at the time and your mother wanted to know what it was about. She was trying to get back in the ladies room."

"Tess was stopping me from leaving," Rose admitted. "Good job my mum came in before I told Tess where to go. I'd already told her she couldn't boss me around outside work."

"I am glad to hear that," Alec agreed, thinking Rose could certainly hold her own against Tess.

"So, what did ya have in mind?" Rose then wanted to know.

"Ah," Alec had to stop and think, since Rose seemed agreeable.

"Ya mean ya'd not thought of anything?" Rose teased him.

"Well, I did not think it would be that easy actually," he admitted. "It is not something I have done before."

"I was just teasin' ya," Rose laughed. "Why don't ya just leave it to me? When I've told my friends though, we don't want them thinking it's serious."

"No," Alec agreed. "I thought it would be more difficult. I mean you going along with it."

"If ya ask me, Tess is determined to make something out of us working together," Rose told him.

"I already know that," Alec replied. "It would have happened no matter who I had to work closely with. Rose, you have to promise me you won't go too far with playing along? I don't want to have to explain it to the chief, or Daisy."

"Aw, you could let her in on it, if ya want?" Rose smiled.

"Best not for now," Alec told her. "So, what is involved? More plotting to meet outside work?" he asked cautiously, not knowing how far she intended taking things.

He supposed it was his own fault if he gave her free reign over it, it had been his idea. He'd agreed to go along with what she came up with but was that a mistake? He'd soon find out. At least she wouldn't start anything before she told her friends.

They set off back and as usual, Alec went into the garage with her.

"So that was one of your friends this morning?" Alec asked her as they got out of the car.

"Yeah, she was gonna ask about a parking space, I warned her about the sergeant," Rose smiled.

"Well I am glad I have not had to rescue you again," Alec smiled back.

Rose thought he looked so different when he smiled, which he seemed to be doing more of lately. They went up in the lift, Alec hoping she wouldn't start anything just yet. He didn't fancy being the subject of gossip himself without any warning. There again, maybe Rose would think it was amusing to do so.

Rose thought they could maybe make a bit of a start as they went back into the office.

"My mum's deciding if she wants to stay or not," she began telling Alec as he held the door for her. "I hope she does, I'd missed her already. I miss going to bingo with her and going to the pub."

Rose added that bit as they passed near to Tess, who had already looked up as they'd entered and were talking.

"I hope she decides then," Alec replied so Tess could hear him. "Then you will have someone to go out with, I mean when you're not with your friends," he added.

"Yeah, that would be good, I've not made many friends so far, except here. They really cheer me up, we always have a laugh at lunchtime," Rose told him as they neared her desk. "Want a coffee Sir?" she smiled at him, since Tess was still watching.

"Ah, yes," Alec was wondering where this was going, hoping he wasn't going to regret this when he got home.

He could only hope Rose wouldn't go too far in going along with his idea of getting back at Tess. Had he given her the wrong impression? He didn't want to take things too far or he really would have some explaining to do.

When it came to lunchtime, Rose's friends had already been wondering what was going on after seeing her and Alec returning earlier.

"Do you think they're trying to tell Tess something?" Trish suggested.

"Well either that or Hardy's gone soft," Kate laughed. "Mind you, it makes a change from him being miserable, especially when he used to come back in with Tess."

"Yeah, anything's better than that," Jo agreed as she waved Rose over. "Well come on Rose, what have you got to tell us?"

"Watcha mean?" Rose was confused as she sat down and put her tray on the table.

"When you and Hardy came back in," Trish reminded her. "You were talking and I bet Tess was dying to know."

"Just about my mum's visit, honestly," Rose tried to play it down. "He'd said there's no reason to stop talking when we get back."

"Thought you said he didn't talk much?" Kate reminded her from earlier.

"Only on the way here," Rose replied, thinking she had slipped up. "My mum's deciding if she wants to stay or not, it'll be a big step for her if she does, since I don't know how long I'll be here."

"Why, won't you be staying?" Jo wondered. "You've only just got here."

"Yeah Rose, not giving up already are you?" Kate looked concerned.

"What? No, didn't ya know? I came here to get further training to put in for the sergeant's exam," Rose explained.

All three looked at her.

"Oh. You never said," Trish spoke first. "That explains why you're partnered with Hardy then?"

"Thought it was strange with you being new that you were partnered with him," Kate told Rose. "No wonder Tess is upset then?"

"I think Tess is a bit more than upset," Trish laughed, seeing Tess come in and head for the table her friends were sat at but not until she'd stared at their table sufficiently. "She's trying to guess if we're talking about her or not."

"Let her," Jo replied, finishing her meal. "Just proves she's paranoid."

"Do you think she knows?" Trish asked Rose, who was pretending she'd not seen Tess.

"What?" Rose snapped out of it and went back to her food. "Well she might have been told but if she hasn't, that explains it."

"I suppose it does?" Kate agreed. "Maybe only Hardy and the chief know?"

"I didn't ask for it to be a secret," Rose insisted. "I'm sorry, I thought you knew?"

"Don't worry about it Rose," Trish assured her. "It was an easy mistake, wasn't it girls?"

Kate and Jo both nodded their agreement to Rose.

"Well, good for you then, you must have impressed someone?" Kate wondered.

"There weren't many opportunities where I came from," Rose told her friend.

"Can't blame you for that," Trish agreed. "At least it took Tess down a peg or two, I think she's annoyed her husband got a promotion and she didn't."

"Ya think?" Jo laughed, the rest of them joining in.

Tess looked over at them, seeing Rose laughing with them.

"The new DC seems to have settled in," one of Tess's friends remarked as she saw Tess looking at them.

"A little too well," Tess replied. "She's certainly wormed her way around Alec."

"Worried?" Tess was teased.

"Why should I be?" Tess tried to bluff.

"Then why do you complain about her all the time?" she was reminded.

"Well, she annoys me," Tess replied. "Coming in here and getting partnered with Alec right away. Any of the other DC's could have got that position."

"They wouldn't have bothered you as much?" another friend asked her.

Tess didn't answer. Would they have done or was it because Rose Tyler was young, blonde and attractive?

Chapter 9

Rose wasn't sure how well her friends had taken the reason why she'd come here to Sandbrook. She should have told them on her arrival but with things being tense with Tess, she'd not even been sure as to whether she'd stay or just give up and forget about a career in the police.

Alec though had been encouraging her, giving her advice when they were out and given her the responsibility of getting them around. He'd insisted he was going to drive when they'd been going out on her arrival but had soon given in when she'd said she was supposed to drive him around.

Now, she could see Tess talking with her friends and was surprised at how many seemed to be listening to what she had to say. Tess had been out of line confronting her the day before, it was none of the woman's business where she chose to take her mother out for lunch.

Kate snapped her out of her daydreams.

"Earth to Rose," Kate laughed. "Take no notice of her, we don't," she nodded towards where Tess was. "Anything you want to tell us?"

"Yeah Rose, what's bothering you?" Trish wanted to know, looking concerned.

"It's nothing," Rose insisted as they all looked at her. "Well there was one thing but ya have to promise not to tell anyone else."

"Would we?" Jo asked her.

Rose looked around to see if anyone else was watching, Tess already had it in her head she was being talked about.

Well that was Tess's problem, Rose thought.

"I took my mum out for lunch yesterday and I only picked the same pub as Tess had gone to, didn't I?" Rose admitted.

"You never!" Kate tried not to laugh. "Were they there when you arrived then?"

"No, they came in after we got seated," Rose replied. "The thing is, my mum talked to Tess in the ladies room, she didn't know who she was talking to and that was when I saw Tess as she went back to her table."

"How embarrassing," Jo told her. "What did you do?"

"Nothing, we'd already ordered and there was no way we were leaving anyway," Rose replied. "It got worse though."

"In what way?" Trish wanted to know. "Don't tell me Tess went over to your table?"

"Worse than that," Rose sighed. "She followed my mum back to the ladies room after we'd finished eating, while I was queuing to pay. Then DI Hardy was behind me and he knew Tess had met my mum already."

"Oh, this just gets better," Jo laughed. "Tell us what happened."

Rose wasn't sure she should go into finer details.

"Well, I went into the ladies room and Tess started talking to her daughter when the girl asked if I was the new officer, Tess had been talking to my mum again."

"That didn't take much working out," Trish remarked.

"Let her finish," Kate insisted, looking at Rose, who was wishing she'd never said anything.

"When my mum came out of the cubicle, Tess was just disappearing and I'd hoped to sneak out before Tess said anything to me but she was about to leave while I was trying to ignore her when she turned back. Her daughter tried to get her to leave but Tess took no notice," Rose told them.

"So she started on you?" Kate asked. "Did she want to know what you were doing there?"

"Not only that, she accused me of going there on purpose," Rose replied, not wanting to say what really happened.

She trusted her friends but wasn't sure just how far.

"Why would you?" Kate wanted to know. "Did she think you were there just so you could annoy her or something?"

"She must have done," Rose admitted, hoping she could get away with it.

"Poor you," Jo sympathised. "I hope you told her you had better things to do than guess where she was?"

"She reckoned I saw their car and decided to stop," Rose replied. "I just said we'd got there first and she couldn't boss me around when we weren't at work."

"That told her then," Trish laughed. "You did right Rose, outside of the station it's none of her business what you do. Isn't that right girls?" she asked the others.

"Too right," Jo agreed, trying not to look over to where Tess was. "Why doesn't her husband do something about her?"

"Forget it," Rose insisted. "She's mad that I got partnered with her husband, that's all. Well I'm not gonna give up, whether she likes it or not."

"Good for you Rose," Kate told her. "If you came here to get more experience, don't let the likes of her stop you."

"Yeah Rose, you go for it," Trish agreed. "I guess you stand a pretty good chance, being partnered with Hardy. Did you know why Tess got to work with him?"

Rose looked at her friends.

"I guess she stopped anyone else?" Rose smiled.

"Something like that. She complained to the chief if there was even a rumour he was going to split them up," Kate told her. "No-one dared apply to work with him."

"How long have you three been here?" Rose wanted to know.

"Just over a year," Jo replied. "We were in uniform and suddenly, the big bosses gave the chief extra money towards giving more training so we went for it."

"Wish they'd done that where I came from," Rose admitted. "Then I could have stayed in London."

"Aw, never mind Rose, Hardy will make sure you get the training. Hey, you could be bossing us about," Trish laughed, the other two joining in.

"Just look at her," Tess began to complain as her friends had changed the subject.

"Why don't you leave it Tess?" one of them wanted to know. "Just ignore them."

"Easy for you to say," Tess replied. "You're not the one who has a husband training her."

"Tess, that's all it is, just training," another insisted.

"I tell you, they're talking when they come back in the office," Tess reminded them.

"Long as they're only talking," Tess was teased, the others laughing. "You're just being paranoid Tess."

"Well thanks for your support," Tess then huffed.

"Oh come on Tess, why are you so worried?" she was asked. "Your husband doesn't seem the type to have his head turned by a young officer he's training."

"What? When the officer in question is young and blonde? "Really?" Tess replied, now getting really annoyed her friends weren't being that sympathetic.

Her friends shook their heads and started to get up from the table.

"Huh," Tess replied as they left, folding her arms and adding she wasn't going to take the advice.

Did Tyler really think she was going to get away with it? She was so annoyed that she didn't see Alec approaching the table.

"Tess," he roused her from her thoughts and sat opposite.

"What?" Tess replied, pulling a face at her cold coffee.

"Why are you watching the table where my new DC is?" he wanted to know out of curiosity.

"Why do you think Alec?" Tess replied. "She and her friends are talking about me again."

"Come on Tess, why would they be doing that?" Alec looked in Rose's direction and seeing her friends leaving.

"You'd know all about that Alec, since you colluded with her to spoil our Sunday lunch," Tess huffed.

"I did not collude anything Tess," Alec protested. "You suggested we went out as I remember."

"And if I hadn't, you would have done," Tess insisted. "You knew where to go when we set off."

Alec knew he was going to lose this argument so why was he even bothering?

"I give up Tess," Alec shook his head and was about to get up when he saw Rose was leaving.

Tess wasn't paying any attention now Rose's friends had left, she was intent on getting her point across to her husband. Instead, she got up, picking up her cold coffee and brushing past him went to get more. Alec went off, trying to catch up with Rose, who was waiting for the lift. The door had just opened and someone was getting out as he caught up with her.

"We're you by any chance talking to your friends about Tess?" he asked her as he pressed the button for their floor.

"Should I have been?" Rose replied, hoping he wouldn't tell her she was talking out of place.

"Look Rose, I know she is paranoid, especially after yesterday and she will continue so I understand if you want me to ask the chief to partner you with another senior officer," Alec told her as the lift door opened.

He gestured for her to go first and asked her to wait a moment.

"Look Rose, this started long before you came here so do not think it is just you."

"I know, my friends just told me," Rose replied. "They didn't know why I was here though, it's not a secret is it?"

"No," Alec seemed surprised. "Unless Tess did not pass it on before your arrival, she was told the reason."

"That explains it then," Rose tried to smile. "Geez, what have I ever done to her?"

"I am sorry Rose," Alec replied, not knowing what else to say. "She objected to anyone taking her place when we were partnered, the chief tried several times but no-one would come forward. It was only when he got your application that he decided enough was enough."

"So it started before she'd even met me?" Rose wondered.

"I am afraid so," Alec told her, leaning with his hand on the wall next to her.

Rose looked up at him, wishing he wasn't so tall.

"Just my luck then?" Rose tried to brush it off.

"What I said before, you seem to have made a good start," Alec smiled. "She seemed suitably annoyed judging by her reaction when I left her."

"I didn't know how far ya wanted to take it," Rose smiled back.

The lift bell sounded and Alec stood up straight. The last thing he wanted was for it to be either Tess in the lift or someone she knew who would say they'd caught him and Rose getting friendly in the lift area. He knew what it would look like, he wanted to get back at Tess but wasn't sure how far it should go.

It was someone else who worked on their floor who got out of the lift and Alec nodded to them before they went through the double door.

"Phew, thought that was Tess then," Rose grinned.

"Yes, so did I," Alec agreed. "As I was saying, Tess had already complained about being cut off from going on callouts with me so she had made up her mind to put anyone off working with me. Your transfer came out of the blue and again, I apologise no-one knew why you were here. I will do everything I can to help you reach a level where you can get your promotion."

"Thanks. My friends said no-one had put in for one because they thought Tess would hold them back," Rose admitted.

"They did, did they?" Alec seemed surprised. "Well I will talk to the chief about it, there are other detective inspectors who can train those who apply to become detective sergeants."

"That would be great, I feel really bad that I got sent here for that reason and they all missed out," Rose told him.

"Ah, don't say anything just yet," Alec advised her. "Although I do not see a problem. I have no idea what Tess gives them to do, probably chasing up leads."

"I could have stayed doing that back in London," Rose laughed as the lift bell rang again. "That really could be Tess or her friends this time."

That gave Alec an idea as Rose was about to move.

"Stay there," he suggested. "Let us see what happens eh?"

Rose was quite willing to give Tess something to really worry about.

Tess had been taking her time down in the staff canteen, since Dave had wandered in and was sat at the side of her.

"All alone?" Dave had grinned. "You should start smoking then you could go outside with your friends."

"Is that where you've been?" Tess replied. "Out smoking I mean."

"Something like that," Dave joked. "What's wrong now? New girl giving you grief again was she?"

"Don't even get me going on that Dave," Tess replied. "Alec just followed her out not five minutes ago, if they're not up to something then why?"

Dave let out a loud laugh, Tess nudging him.

"Oh come on Tess, stop getting so worried. You have him just where you want him, he wouldn't dare try anything."

"I'm glad you think so," Tess replied. "Did I tell you what happened yesterday?"

"Remind me if you must," Dave told her, not recalling Tess's latest list of grudges.

He didn't always listen anyway, he knew what the grudges were about, they were virtually the same and included her husband and his new partner.

As the lift door opened on the floor Rose and Alec were on, Alec leaned on the wall again but this time closer to Rose, who looked up in surprise. She was quick to catch on as she began to talk to him again.

"My mum thought it was really funny what happened yesterday while we were out," she laughed as Tess's friends all got out of the lift.

Alec thought he knew what she was up to so he went along with it, looking down and smiling at Rose.

"She did? I am glad she found it amusing, she seemed fairly annoyed while I was talking to her," Alec replied.

"Oh, she never said," Rose told him. "We just laughed about it on the way home."

"I know Tess was not happy about it," Alec admitted as the women walked through the double doors.

Rose burst out laughing, Alec joining in. It was the most he'd laughed in years and he was enjoying it.

"Oh, I can't wait to see Tess's face when they tell her," Rose spluttered.

"You and me both Rose," Alec agreed, still with a grin on his face. "You, Rose Tyler are going to be trouble."

"That's my middle name," Rose laughed as he reached over her head to push the doors open.

She ducked underneath, Alec still smiling.

"Do you know something Rose?" Alec stopped suddenly.

Rose turned back to face him.

"What? Ya think it'll make trouble with Tess when ya get home?" Rose was worried.

"She has been late home recently. She said she'd either been at her sister's or her mother's when she had collected Daisy," Alec told her. "Then suddenly she was late and called to say she had been out with her friends."

"Oh, sorry, I shouldn't have asked," Rose apologised as they stood by the window.

"No, it's fine," Alec assured her. "The thing is Rose, do I believe that or not?"

"It's not my business," Rose blushed the colour of her name.

"Rose, I am not blaming you for what Tess has become, it's her paranoia. She chose to be like that, even Daisy has noticed. Daisy told me she had tried to get Tess to back away from you yesterday."

He leaned on the windowsill next to Rose, folding his arms.

"She could've been with her friends, she sits with them all the time in the staff canteen," Rose told him.

"She should have said before she went with them, instead of leaving Daisy. I had to go and collect her after Tess finally decided to call me," Alec replied. "Are the rumours true about Dave Harris then?"

Rose didn't know what to say.

"I could ask my friends to listen out for anything else, if ya want?" Rose offered as she tried to move up a little but there wasn't much room anyway.

Did he want to know, Alec asked himself.

Chapter 10

Rose thought it was time they moved, before Tess really did get out of the lift and find them both leaning on the window ledge as she walked through the double doors. They caught each other as they both got up at the same time, Alec stopping to let Rose go first.

He thought if he wasn't really careful, Rose would get the wrong idea and she really would ask for someone else to train her.

"Sorry," he told her as she realised.

Rose just smiled as they went back to the office.

"Good job Tess didn't get out of the lift," she giggled.

"Yes, then there really would have been trouble," Alec agreed. "Although what her friends will say to her is anyone's guess."

"Geez, how did it get to this?" Rose wanted to know. "She could ruin everything for me."

"No, I will not let her, do not worry," Alec assured her as he opened the office door.

Rose was surprised her friends were already at their desks and Kate called her over.

"Where have you been Rose?" Kate asked her. "We looked in the canteen and you weren't there, nor in the ladies room."

"How did ya get here before me?" Rose tried to evade the question.

"We came up the other staircase," Trish replied. "Well?"

"Yeah Rose, you just came back in with Hardy again," Jo tried not to laugh.

"I decided to take my time, then I went in the ladies on this floor," Rose tried to bluff.

Why was she trying to cover things up, she wondered. Couldn't she talk to her boss now?

"We'll believe you," Kate grinned, going back to the pile of folders on her desk.

Rose was about to sit down when Alec waved her to his office.

"This just came in," he handed a piece of paper to her. "Want to follow it up?"

"On my own?" Rose was surprised as she read it.

Alec raised his eyebrows.

"I am going to see the chief, about what we discussed earlier," he then told her. "Get one of your friends to help you, if you wish?"

"What will Tess say?" Rose was worried.

Alec looked up to see Tess just sitting down at her desk. What had been taking her so long, he wondered. Tess didn't even go outside with her friends to have a cigarette so had she been with Dave Harris? The best thing was, he wasn't even worried.

While Rose and Alec had been talking, Dave had whispered to Tess, saying for her to give him a minute then follow him to the back of the building. He waited for her then trying not to get noticed, they slipped into an unused part of the parking garage.

"I only said I couldn't meet you after work Tess," Dave teased her, going for her shirt buttons.

"You have a nerve Dave," Tess replied.

"Come on Tess, you know you can't get what I can give you from Alec any more?" he reminded her, going for her cleavage as he undid another button.

He went for her trousers zip then his own and told her to keep her noise down as he lifted her up when he'd pulled her towards the corner of the wall. Tess clung hold of him and tried not to make a sound. It was all over too quick for Tess's liking, wondering how things had gone so wrong with Alec yet Dave wanted her.

She could hardly complain to Alec that Dave treated her better than he did although he must suspect something by now.

"You need to be less tense Tess," Dave told her as he watched her fasten her trouser zip.

Tess called him a name, making him grin. He'd been called worse than a selfish son of a before now, mainly by his wife. He left without her, laughing to himself and going to the glass fire doors of the canteen that had been left open, acting like nothing had happened. Tess went the long way round, walking through the garage and hoping she wouldn't be spotted.

She got back to the office, seeing Rose in Alec's office. It was no use, she had to admit she had the jealousy bug despite cheating on her husband, which she could no longer deny she wasn't actually cheating with Dave. She was less than happy seeing Rose smiling as she came out of Alec's office with a piece of paper in her hand.

So, Alec was even passing notes to his DC now, was he, Tess thought. What were they planning now? Then she knew why Dave had so easily convinced her Alec didn't care for her and to think of herself instead. The only question now was, did she admit it to Alec or not? No, let him find out for himself, she then thought, watching Rose go towards the desks where her friends were.

Tyler had obviously been telling the three women about meeting Alec at the pub restaurant the day before and they were all laughing at her expense. Alec had taken the blonde's side and was defending her, now the chief wouldn't listen to her complaints any more. Alec had got Chief Wilson on his side, she was already convinced of that so going to him about Alec getting friendly with his DC was out of the question.

Rose went over to her friends again, making them all look up as she waved the paper at them.

"So, who wants to help me with this?" Rose grinned at them.

"What are you talking about Rose?" Jo asked her.

"I just got this to do from the boss," Rose replied. "He said I could get someone to help me."

She handed the printed paper to Kate, who read it quickly.

"He gave you this?" Kate was surprised. "You should be so lucky."

"Aw come on," Trish spoke up. "What is it?"

"Hold on," Kate insisted, reading it with more attention. "Is he being serious?"

"Hey, don't knock it," Rose replied, trying to get the paper from her as Kate passed it to Jo over the desks.

Tess was watching them with interest. What was the blonde and her friends up to now? Plotting against herself probably or had Alec put Tyler up to it? She wouldn't be surprised if he had done. Right from the start Dave had warned her and told her she shouldn't feel guilty of what had happened and she had felt tense earlier, hoping no-one would catch them.

Maybe it was time to think about herself and what she needed, Alec would notice no difference and would probably start fooling around with the young blonde. Sometimes she cursed the chief for taking Tyler on. How exactly had a young DC from London been transferred here in the first place?

What was so special about Tyler, coming in and getting trained by a senior detective when such as Tyler's friends hadn't bothered seeking promotion? She was supposed to be in charge of everyone below the rank of detective sergeant and even some DS's still answered to her, Alec being overall in charge but she had a free reign most of the time.

If only she was in charge of Tyler but Alec had told her in no uncertain terms the blonde was off-limits. Rose's friends were now deciding who was going to take up her offer.

"Look, I know it's not fair askin' ya to decide who comes with me," Rose was telling them. "Things will get better, trust me."

"How can you be certain, with Tess in charge?" Trish wanted to know, finally handing the paper back to Rose. "She has us where she wants us."

"Yeah Rose, you have no idea what it's been like," Jo agreed, Kate nodding her agreement.

"Then go to the chief about it," Rose suggested, wishing Alec hadn't told her to get someone to help her now. "What's stoppin' ya?"

"Easy for you to say," Jo complained, sitting back on her chair.

"Look, I'm sorry things are like they are but you could all go see the chief, tell him the reason ya were held back. He can't ignore three of ya," Rose replied, feeling sorry for what they'd had to put up with. "Don't let Tess treat ya like that any more."

"Be careful Rose," Kate warned her. "Even you're not immune to her, she's in charge of everyone below her rank."

"Not me," Rose said with confidence. "You can all get from under her if ya try."

"Sorry Rose, it's not that easy," Trish told her. "You've got Hardy on your side, we haven't. You came from outside, you've not worked your way up here. Hell, we've not even seen any new DCs come in here since we arrived, they all got put in other divisions. No-one even wanted to come to this one."

Tess had seen they had been talking for too long and got up to put a stop to it.

"What's going on here?" Tess wanted to know. "Tyler, I suggest you get back to your own desk instead of keeping your friends talking. Leave it until break time."

She knew she couldn't order Tyler around or the blonde would go crying to Alec but she could tell the others.

"You three get back to work," Tess then ordered them.

"Excuse me Ma'am," Rose spoke up. "DI Hardy told me to get someone to help with some enquiries he wants making, regarding a case that just came up."

"Did he now?" Tess seemed annoyed. "Well he should have told you to come to me first then instead of you offering to let your friends help you. There are other DCs in this office."

By now, everyone had stopped working to see what was going on.

"I doubt he told you to ask around the whole office," Tess continued.

Rose wished her boss would hurry up and come back from seeing the chief. She had seen him come out of his office, stop by Tess's desk then go off.

Tess had looked up as Alec had stood in front of her desk.

"Going off on your own?" Tess had asked sarcastically.

"I am going to see the chief, there are going to be some changes around here," he had told her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tess had asked him.

"You will see," Alec had replied and had walked off.

Now, Alec was discussing things with the chief.

"So that's the reason?" Chief Wilson was asking Alec as he leaned forward in his chair. "So basically, everyone is scared Tess will object if they want to take the sergeant's exam?"

"Putting it that way, then yes," Alec agreed. "I just found out from DC Tyler, who herself is afraid the same will happen to her."

"What makes her think that Alec?" the chief wanted to know. "Tyler is your responsibility isn't she? Tess does know that?"

"Yes, she does but she has tried more than once, trust me," Alec replied. "Tess tries to get to her in other ways. Remember how she was when she thought everyone would come between her and me working as partners?"

"Only too well Alec," the chief recalled. "Don't let me go though that again."

"I am trying my best," Alec assured him. "I came here to ask you to consider giving anyone who wants to be put in for a promotion the assurance there are plenty of senior officers to train them. It should now be easier anyway, since I am already training someone. By the way, I am sure Tess thinks you gave me Rose Tyler to train just to spite her."

The chief had to smile at the thought. He wanted to know more so Alec briefly told him that Tess had cornered Rose more than once but left out the cat fight the day before.

"Tess does seem to go overboard at times," the chief agreed. "Are you saying Tess is going out of her way to get to your trainee?"

"Yes, she is," Alec replied. "Hell, it's even spilling over at home when Tyler collects me in the mornings. Tess is always having a go at me."

"I can't do anything about that Alec," the chief told him.

"I know but it is already getting out of hand. All I can do is warn Tess off, which I have already told her that DC Tyler is off limits to her. It still makes Rose nervous around Tess though."

The chief ignored Alec calling Rose by her first name. As far as he knew, Alec Hardy didn't do the first name thing so it was either a slip of the tongue or the DI was getting soft.

"I will consider your suggestion about training Alec, leave it with me," the chief told him instead of asking which one it was. "Deal with Tess causing problems as you see fit."

Alec felt like replying with maybe getting Tess transferred to another station would be preferable.

"Oh, before you leave Alec, do you know of any particular thing that has set Tess against your new DC? I know she has done it with others when I ordered the two of you to sort out your problems with working together but DC Tyler is new to the area."

"It was nothing I can think of," Alec replied. "It seems to me Tess had made her mind up to dislike Rose before she even arrived."

"Yes, probably with her being an outsider," the chief agreed.

There, Alec had called her Rose again, he was going soft.

"By the way, I gave her a job to do on her own, see how she gets on," Alec added as he got up.

"Yes, good thinking Alec," the chief agreed. "I think it's a good idea, her training officer back in London speaks very highly of her. Apparently she put herself through college rather late so she could join the police."

Alec nodded and left, thinking good for her. Was he going to stand by and let Tess ruin the young officer's chances?

Rose had gone back to her desk as Tess scowled at her. Now, she'd either have to get her boss involved or risk her friends turning against her for getting them into bother for talking. Plenty of others chatted as they worked so what was Tess's problem then? It wasn't like they'd not been talking about work. Now, she may have to prove she could deal with what Alec had given her to do on her own.

She turned her computer screen on and got to work, if she could do this on her own then it would prove she was capable. Alec came back into the office and saw Tess looking pleased with herself so she must have upset someone. He only hoped it wasn't Rose or her friends but Rose was working away on her own so he guessed Tess had put a stop to Rose seeking some help.

Tess got up and followed Alec into his office, slamming the glass door behind her after getting a text message.

"What are you thinking of Alec? Getting Tyler to enlist the help of her friends for something you gave her to do?" Tess asked angrily.

"Hold on Tess," Alec told her as he put his jacket on the back of his chair. "You had better not have confronted her over it?"

He saw the look on her face as Tess stood her ground. He sat down and began messing with the papers on his desk.

"She was stopping her friends from working so I put a stop to it," Tess replied. "What did you tell her Alec? To disrupt everything?"

"Tess, I said she could get someone to help her," Alec tried to tell her. "In future, no interfering Tess, understand?"

"Well if Tyler's that good, she can manage to do whatever it was on her own," Tess replied sarcastically.

"Oh, so when you were seeking a promotion, you never asked for my help?" Alec wanted to know.

"Well you didn't have to tell her to get one of her friends to help," Tess complained.

"While we are on the subject of promotions, if I find out you have been holding someone back, there will be consequences," he then warned her.

"You have no proof of that Alec," Tess replied confidently, knowing those including Rose's friends wouldn't dare say anything.

"Don't I?" Alec challenged her. "Be careful Tess."

"Well you would get your little blonde friend to spy on me for you," Tess hissed. "I just had an interesting text from a friend in the next office."

Alec knew it wouldn't take long for her to find out.

"About what exactly?" he tried to bluff.

"You know very well what Alec, you and Tyler talking by the door, don't play innocent," Tess almost laughed.

Just as Alec predicted, she was onto the fact he and Rose had been seen by someone.

"Well you were late back yourself," Alec reminded her. "What were you doing eh? Rose and I were just talking."

Tess laughed and got up, knowing he was hiding something and she meant to find out what it was. If she went on the offensive, turn it back at him, the less likely he was to suspect about herself and Dave.

That was all about to turn sour for her though, the sergeant in the parking garage had seen her walking past all the cars after he'd been to check out a car that had just been returned from being loaned out. The sergeant had thought it was strange since he knew where she parked her car and she was nowhere near it.

He was also sure he'd seen someone going around the corner of the building and if he were to take a guess, DS Hardy had possibly been meeting someone secretly. He was tired of being warned by her husband for getting too friendly with the female officers and it had been the last straw when the DI had come to the rescue of the latest young officer to arrive.

Maybe it was time to get his revenge?

Chapter 11

Most of the time, those in the office just made their own drinks on their afternoon break so Rose and her friends sat around the three desks, keeping their voices down.

"What was that all about with Tess earlier?" Jo wanted to know.

"Don't ask me," Trish laughed as she sat on the corner of Kate's desk.

"Well she was upset about something," Kate agreed. "Well when is she never upset these days?"

"I think that's my fault," Rose admitted. "Sorry I got ya all into bother with her."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Jo assured her. "It's Tess's problem, not yours."

"Yeah Rose, you were only trying to do us a favour. If you still want our help?" Trish told her.

"Well yeah, I was told I could have some help but I'd best go see DI Hardy first, I'm not gonna give Tess the satisfaction of asking her who I can chose," Rose replied.

"Too right," Jo agreed. "Why should you? Tess thinks you're trying to undermine her authority but technically, her husband's in charge, he just lets her get on with it."

"Yeah but only 'cos she thinks he's getting too friendly with the female officers," Trish reminded them. "Can't say I blame him for wanting to avoid conflicts."

"Well they still argue," Rose told them. "Sorry, I can't tell ya much but from what I can tell, the chief split them up for arguing didn't he?"

She knew she had to be careful what she said, Alec had told her things in confidence and she didn't want to betray the trust he'd placed in her.

"Yeah, we know Rose," Kate told her. "Wonder where she disappeared to? She used to stay here for the afternoon break."

"She probably got tired of seeing us talking about her," Trish laughed. "Ladies room anyone?"

"Better be careful, Tess might be in there," Jo laughed as she got up.

Rose was dying to tell them what had happened the day before but then, she'd really have some explaining to do. To start with, why Tess was acting that way and did Tess have something to worry about? As far as she was concerned, the woman was paranoid long before her arrival. Hadn't Alec already told her that?

When it came to home time, Rose was waiting in Alec's office doorway for him. Tess had been watching as she gathered her own things. Tess had thought she would delay her departure a few minutes to see what went on after she usually left. If Alec thought he could ignore her and walk past like he had done the week before, he could think again.

She was going to get him to go down to the parking garage with her, not his little blonde DC and if he didn't, there was going to be trouble.

"Sorry Rose," Alec apologised as he got his jacket from the back of the chair. "Come in and close the door."

Rose looked around nervously, she knew Tess was delaying on purpose.

"What's wrong?" he wanted to know as Rose sat down. "I know there's something, you were working on your own. Do your friends not want to help you?"

"No, it's not that. While you were seeing the chief, well I went to ask them who volunteered but Tess came over and told me to go back to my desk, well more or less. She didn't want to know that you'd said I could get someone to help me."

"She did, did she?" Alec raised his eyebrows as he leaned on the desk. "What exactly did she say?"

"That there were other DCs in the office and I should have asked her first," Rose told him.

Why should she cover up for Tess, Rose wondered. Tess never did her any favours, she went out of her way to cause trouble.

"She what?" Alec replied. "Not when I say for you to ask one of your friends to help you don't. You work with me, not her."

With that, he got up and went to the door, seeing Tess going off. Should he call her back or not? He didn't want Rose getting caught up in what would surely turn into an argument and none of it would be Rose's fault.

"Sir, I don't want to cause any trouble," Rose insisted.

"Rose, forget it, it's not any of your fault," he assured her as she got up.

"Ya know she'll be waiting down in the garage?" Rose replied.

"Then let her," Alec told her as he let her go first. "Apparently, she got a message from one of her friends earlier," he then smiled.

"Crumbs, now we're in trouble," Rose laughed. "I've had trouble not tellin' my friends what happened yesterday. If I did tell them, I can't promise ya it won't go any further."

"Don't worry," Alec assured her as they went through the double doors and he pressed the button for the lift.

As predicted, Tess was delaying getting into her car down in the garage. She wished she could park next to the car Alec used, then he'd have no escape. She had just unlocked her car with the remote when the traffic sergeant saw her and was making his way towards her, Tess too busy watching for the doors opening and Alec first followed by Tyler.

"Hello there Tess," the sergeant grinned at her, making her turn around.

"You gave me a fright then," Tess complained, not wanting to miss her husband and have him sneak off through the parked cars to avoid her.

"Watching for your husband then?" the sergeant grinned at her.

"How did you guess?" Tess replied sarcastically.

The sergeant ignored the remark. She seemed in a bad mood anyway, so now was the perfect time to stir up trouble.

"How come you never leave together these day?" he asked her as she resumed her watch. "He always leaves with that young blonde officer."

He waited to see if she would take the bait.

"Don't talk to me about her," Tess complained. "The chief made her Alec's DC and now she thinks she has to drive him to and from home as well as for work purposes."

"Poor Tess," the sergeant tried not to laugh. "So it was her idea to bring him to work and take him home then?"

"Well I'm sure the chief didn't suggest it," Tess replied, jumping when the doors opened but it was someone else.

What was delaying them, Tess wondered. She knew Alec had called Tyler into his office on purpose so he didn't have to leave at the same time.

"I'm sure he didn't," the sergeant agreed. "So, your husband lets her then?"

"Not for much longer," Tess told him. "I'll soon put a stop to it. I mean I don't know what the neighbours think of it, us going in separate cars and him having a female driver. It took some explaining to our daughter."

"I can imagine," the sergeant replied. "I used to think it strange when you both came in your own cars sometimes. Was that Dave Harris I saw you talking to the other night?" he asked, not wanting to say he'd seen them both at lunchtime.

"What do you mean by that?" Tess wanted to know.

"Just that I noticed the other night, they walked past you and they were chatting away," the sergeant replied.

"Well he's not getting away with that tonight," Tess told him.

They both heard the doors opening and heard voices. The sergeant disappeared before he could be seen otherwise his fun would be spoiled by the DI.

"Tess will wonder where we got to," Rose was telling Alec as they waited for the lift.

"Do not worry about it," Alec told her as he pressed the button again, making Rose smile at his impatience.

"Fine for you to say," Rose muttered under her breath but Alec heard her and smiled back.

"Rose, you worry too much," he then told her. "I will deal with Tess. Tomorrow morning, find out which one of your friends is to help you, never mind what Tess tells you, you are acting on my orders. Oh and if you see Tess in the morning watching you when you pick me up, just ignore her. Maybe we will give her something to complain about?"

He gave a little smile as he raised his eyebrows just as the bell rang for the lift.

"About time," he complained as they stepped inside, three others already in the lift.

It was only a small lift and Rose had wondered how they managed but a lot of the people who worked there took the stairs if they were going out of the front entrance or the other staircase if they were parked outside around the back. There wasn't a lot of room so Rose had to stand quite close to Alec but he didn't seem to notice. Rose did though and wondered how he was ignoring the fact.

As they got out and opened the doors to the parking garage, Rose was about to ask him if he thought Tess would be waiting for them but she saw her as Alec held the doors open.

"Now to face the music," Rose said in a low voice as others behind her were talking, which is what Tess heard as she waited not so patiently.

Alec heard her though and agreed with her. Well it would be Tess that started it, not them he thought.

"Alec," Tess called as they approached, the other three going off in different directions.

"What Tess? Are you not setting off to get Daisy?" he wanted to know as he stopped, Rose almost bumping into him.

"I'll go to the car," Rose decided, not wanting to be caught up as it seemed Tess was looking for an argument.

She felt sorry for their daughter having to put up with them squabbling all the time. She bet it was Tess who always started first. Having met Daisy, Rose had found it easy to like the almost teenager. The girl had tried to get Tess to back down the day before and had been able to warn Alec and her mother as to what was going on in the ladies room.

"Not so fast Tyler," Tess stopped her.

"Excuse me, it's Rose," Rose turned around to tell her. "You can't keep me here, it's after working hours."

Alec folded his arms and saw the look on Rose's face. Good, she was standing up for herself, he thought and let her get on with it.

"Alec, are you coming home with me or with her?" Tess wanted to know.

"Rose is my driver and my partner," Alec reminded Tess. "It's part of her job to drive me around, including driving me to and from work."

"Not every night, surely?" Tess replied, still watching Rose didn't get away so easily.

"You have Daisy to collect, you are always late for her, try to be on time just this once," Alec told her. "I ended up having to get her on Friday evening, because you say you were out with your friends."

Rose was sure she shouldn't be hearing this.

"I was," Tess insisted, daring him to say anything else in front of his DC.

Alec knew she was baiting him so he looked at Rose.

"Go start the car," he suggested to her. "I will be a few minutes."

Tess wasn't going to let him get away with that. She waited until Rose walked off before saying anything else.

"Really Alec, why do you always take her side?" Tess wanted to know.

"Really Tess? When you question why she was asking for help with something I gave her to do? Why did you not listen to her explanation eh?"

"Oh, she would go crying to you Alec," Tess scoffed. "You're forgetting there's more than her friends in the division, aren't you?"

"She knows them and besides, I have learned her friends and others in the office have held back from asking to be considered for a promotion. I hope that has nothing to do with you?" Alec replied.

He knew it was, Rose had been told but he was waiting to see what Tess had to say about it.

"That's not my fault Alec, maybe they're not ready?' Tess replied.

"If I remember correctly Tess, you never gave any of them the chance to try, did you? You objected to anyone working with me since the time the chief no longer allowed us to work together. You do know that sergeants can also take on the training of anyone who applies to take an exam?"

"Thanks for that Alec, yes, I do know so why did the chief put Tyler with you then?" Tess argued.

"Oh, as opposed to putting her with you?" Alec replied. "I have not seen any of the DCs rise above their existing rank, I wonder why? I know other divisions do the necessary training and while we are on the subject, Rose is the only DC who has joined us recently."

"Just as I said Alec, you keep defending her. Have your way then, let her take one of her friends to help her but if I need them back, they come back," Tess told him.

Alec shook his head.

"Only if there is any real need to take whoever it is back Tess. Now, I am making Rose late home and her mother will be worried about her," Alec told her.

"Her mother's still in town then?" Tess almost laughed.

"I give up Tess. I do not know what your problem is with Rose or her mother but I suggest you get over it. I know you are doing your best to put Rose off so back away and stop trying to order her around when she is not working or do I have to go to the chief to say you're harassing her?" Alec warned her.

"You wouldn't Alec," Tess replied.

"Wouldn't I?" Alec challenged her.

He left her to think about it and went to where Rose was sat in the car.

"I'm causing trouble again," Rose told him as he got in and fastened the seatbelt.

"No, you are not, you were standing up for yourself," Alec assured her. "Don't let her treat you like that, either in work or out."

They set off but just before Rose turned into Alec's street, he told her to stop the car.

"I can walk from here," he offered.

"Why?" Rose wondered. "Will she have got home already?"

"She may have said something to the neighbours," Alec warned her. "I would not like you to be gossiped about Rose."

"Seriously?" Rose laughed. "What has she got to tell them then?"

"I do not know, honestly," Alec admitted. "I don't seem to know her anymore and before you go blaming yourself, it started before you got here."

"Maybe but I've made it worse, haven't I?" Rose replied.

"No, don't think that," Alec insisted.

This was his problem, not hers.

"Yeah but things might have got better for ya," Rose suggested.

Would they, Alec wondered. The way things were going, he doubted it.

"Well should I drive the rest of the way?" Rose wanted to know. "I mean I wouldn't want to spread any more gossip," she smiled.

How could she possibly make things any worse, Alec thought.

"If you insist," he agreed as she started the car again.

"I saw Tess standing there watching us drive off this morning," Rose admitted.

"I noticed, don't let it worry you Rose," he replied as they drove around the corner.

"See ya in the morning then?" Rose told him as they stopped outside his house.

"Yes but maybe be ready for a quick getaway?" Alec joked. "Seriously though, maybe I should just drive myself in future unless anything urgent comes up and I need to go somewhere?"

"If that's what ya want? You're the boss," Rose tried to sound serious.

Alec managed a smile as he got out of the car.

"Well maybe pick me up in the morning? We can't have Tess thinking she won too easily, can we?" he replied.

He waved as Rose prepared to drive off, Rose setting the satnav for home. When she got there, her mother was preparing their tea.

"Hello sweetheart, had a good day?" Jackie asked cheerfully.

She noticed the look on Rose's face as she sat at the kitchen table.

"Boss givin' ya a hard time?" Jackie asked her as Rose put her head in her hands. "He seemed quite a charmer yesterday," she then laughed.

"Tess thinks I'm after him," Rose looked up for a moment.

"Oh," was all her mother could say. "Ya'd best be careful Rose."

Rose already knew that and was sure she'd said something to her mother before but maybe not?

"Mum, I just work with him, nothing else," Rose replied. "It's her, she's crazy."

"Maybe so sweetheart but that makes her even more dangerous. She could ruin ya career if she wanted."

"He promised me he'd take care of it but he might not be able to," Rose admitted. "I feel awful about it, she even objects to me driving him home or picking him up. She was staring after us this morning and then tonight, she was waiting in the parking garage and wanted him to go home with her. He had to remind her she had to pick up their daughter."

"Well maybe she feels threatened?" Jackie mused.

"She feels threatened?" Rose looked up again. "She's been holding everyone up in the office from going for a promotion just 'cos she doesn't want anyone else working with him."

"Why would she do that?" Jackie wondered.

"Even he doesn't know that Mum," Rose replied. "What's for tea then Mum? Something smells nice."

"Well, I've been looking around the local shops and there's a nice bakery and a mini market. I got some nice cream cakes as well."

Trust her mother to evade the question, Rose smiled at the thought.

"What do I do Mum? Do I stick it out or do I move again?" Rose then asked her.

"Ya stick it out sweetheart, ya can't let her think she's won. I thought she seemed stuck-up when I first talked to her yesterday," Jackie admitted. "Her daughter seemed nice though, when I saw her the second time."

"Yeah, she does Mum," Rose agreed. "Did she tell ya Tess started on me?"

Tess had gone to get Daisy and on the way back, Daisy wanted to know what was going on.

"Why are you and dad falling out over Rose?" she asked Tess.

"Keep out of it Daisy," Tess warned the girl.

"How can I Mum?" Daisy replied. "Rose seemed really nice and her mum did as well. What have you got against her?"

"Really?" Tess asked her. "The chief stopped me working with your father and every time I objected to someone else working with me he told me to stop complaining. Then what does he do?"

"I guess he took Rose on?" Daisy guessed. "She's from London though, what's she doing here then?"

That was a very good question, Tess thought as they reached home and Alec's car was there. What had brought Rose Tyler to Sandbrook and more importantly, what had the chief been thinking when he partnered her with Alec?

Chapter 12

The following week, Alec had told Rose she was doing well and it wouldn't be long before she could study for her sergeant's exam. They had got used to each other and Alec had decided to let her drive him to and from work just to annoy Tess, who was getting more and more distant as Dave had convinced her Rose was having an affair with her husband.

Tess wasn't feeling as guilty meeting with Dave as Alec wasn't going to bed the same time as her anyway, then she would pretend to be asleep to avoid him. She knew he wouldn't bother waking her, not like he used to do anyway when she'd gone upstairs before him.

She had been further convinced Alec was messing around with his DC when the traffic sergeant had dropped hints how they were taking their time when they got back after a callout and had heard them laughing. Daisy had noticed and Alec had tried to explain to her it wasn't anything to do with Rose.

So on Saturday morning, Tess had gone off shopping on her own and Daisy wandered into the front room.

"Are you leaving mum?" the teenager asked him as he read the morning paper.

"What makes you think that?" he asked, looking over the top of the paper at her, his reading glasses propped on his nose.

"Mum's in a worse mood than ever when she picks me up after school," the girl complained.

"Is she still late or does she stop and talk to your gran?" Alec wanted to know.

"What does she tell you?" Daisy asked cautiously, not wanting to get into trouble for telling tales on her mother.

"Never mind what she tells me," Alec replied as he put the paper down and took off his glasses.

"Will I get into trouble from mum?" Daisy wanted to know.

"No, just tell me the truth Daisy. What does she say on the way home then? I can tell she doesn't stop for long," he told her.

"She stops every so often but the rest of the time she's late, then she's in a bad mood if I ask her why she was late," Daisy admitted.

"Is she now?" Alec raised his eyebrows. "I will talk to her about it. Does she mention Rose at all?"

Daisy tried not to look guilty.

"Sorry Dad, I should have said I suppose?" she replied.

"Never mind, your mother told you not to say anything, did she not?" Alec guessed.

Daisy just nodded.

"Please don't argue with mum over it," she pleaded with him.

"Daisy, just tell me what she said about Rose eh?" Alec replied. "If it makes you feel any better, just tell her to stop and change the subject."

"I'll try Dad," Daisy promised. "She just goes on complaining that Rose spends too much time with you and she waits in your office at home time. Then she sees the two of you laughing and she's convinced it's about her. Is it?" Daisy wanted to know.

"Of course not," Alec assured her. "She's just convinced herself it's about her. Rose and I are just talking about work or about how her mother didn't want to go home and she might be coming back to stay. Rose just jokes about how her mother can't decide."

"Her mother seemed nice," Daisy replied as she seemed to take his explanation. "Did you see the way she was determined to see what was going on the other Sunday? Mum still says you planned that on purpose," she laughed.

"It was just a coincidence," Alec insisted. "She was convinced that was what Rose and I were talking about on that Friday evening, She will get over it," Alec hoped. "Daisy, you have to understand that if she continues, it will get more difficult for us to get on? Something will have to be done about it, it won't be fair on you."

"I know Dad I get it," Daisy told him.

He could only hope she did get it.

"Whatever happens, it will not be anything you have said or done," he tried to assure her.

"I liked Rose but please tell me that mum's wrong about her, that you're not planning anything," Daisy replied.

"I am not planning anything," Alec told her as Daisy sat beside him.

He gave her a hug and she seemed satisfied. He wondered if Tess was going to try and turn her against him, he wouldn't put it past her just to get back at him.

Tess had gone into the town centre and was just having a coffee outside a café when she saw Dave walking past with his wife. He'd told her several times that his wife was getting suspicious so they'd had to settle for spending a short time together at lunchtime alongside meeting at the remote spot they'd found if they both got off work slightly earlier. He'd said that was all he could do unless she wanted to leave Alec, then he'd promised he see about leaving his wife.

Tess had doubts he would actually do it but there was only one way she would find out and that was to threaten to leave Alec if he didn't stop messing around with Rose Tyler. Could she actually do it? Would Daisy choose to stay with her or with Alec?

Dave had seen her but had chosen to ignore her or his wife would question him over it. He knew Tess would never leave Alec, not unless something drastic happened, such as her catching her husband with his DC. It wouldn't surprise him in the least if the DI was messing around with the blonde, she was about the most attractive female officer in the building but Tess had been an easy target.

So, Tess was already in a bad mood when she got home. Daisy had gone to see her friend so she took the chance to confront Alec yet again. She began after putting the shopping away and wanted to see if he'd planned on meeting with the blonde.

"Are we going out tomorrow?" she asked him when she went into the front room.

"Why? Did you not get anything for Sunday lunch?" Alec wanted to know.

"Don't evade the question Alec," she reminded him.

"I was not planning on it," he replied, thinking she was trying to catch him out.

He knew what she was trying to find out. Rose had brought her friends into their plan to give Tess something to worry about and it seemed to be working, since Tess thought they spent all lunchtime talking about her. He had noticed that Tess was missing some lunchtimes though.

"Oh. So you're not planning on 'bumping' into Rose Tyler then?" she asked sarcastically.

"What is wrong with you Tess?" he asked her.

"With me?" Tess laughed. "I've heard how you always take your time in the garage when you both come back in."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Alec wondered what she meant by it.

"You know very well Alec," Tess huffed. "Hasn't she got an excuse this week then?"

"Why do you have to drag Rose into everything?" he then wanted to know. "Get over it Tess, I know you are still mad over the chief stopping us working together and he was right to do so."

"Oh, so you did agree with him over that?" Tess replied. "No wonder he accepted someone new."

"Yes and you objected until Rose came along," Alec reminded her.

Tess sat opposite him.

"That's why he accepted her to join our team," she realised. "To get back at me for stopping everyone else in the office working with you."

Alec thought she already knew that.

"You stopped anyone who dared to ask," he replied. "Then others never bothered even asking. Some of those who wanted to go for a promotion have been held back because of you."

"Don't go blaming me Alec," Tess told him. "You could have insisted we still worked together, if you'd wanted. Oh, you didn't want to?" she saw the look on his face.

"Tess, it was not working," he told her. "We argued all the time when we were out and it carried over to the office and you know it."

"So now you're getting back at me by having Rose Tyler as your partner?" Tess replied. "So you deny you're messing around with her?"

"What? No, of course not, we only work together," Alec told her. "Stop trying to put her off working towards a promotion."

"She may have joined us to get a promotion Alec but why did the chief have to put her with you? Weren't there any more new officers? He could have chosen anyone in the office if he'd wanted to."

"He tried and you complained," Alec reminded her. "Tess, is all this to cover something up?" he then dared ask her. "You think by blaming Rose for stopping you and I working together, he will change his mind about it?"

"I already tried that Alec," Tess admitted. "Remember you told me I could choose any partner I wanted?"

"Yes and did you even bother?" Alec replied.

"I wanted to but I knew what you would say," Tess replied. "I thought I'd told you I choose Dave Harris?"

So, Rose and her friends were right then, Alec thought. He had hoped that Tess disappearing at lunchtime was just her talking somewhere with her friends, he never stopped long enough to find out lately. Rose was busy talking with her friends and laughing about something and she was about his only ally in the place these days.

He wondered what Tess had been telling her friends and if they had speculated about what he and Rose talked about outside of the office. They'd obviously put two and two together and got five when one of them had sent that text to Tess about he and Rose laughing and talking in the corridor.

"Dave Harris is in another division," Alec reminded her, thinking Tess was trying to get a reaction from him of some kind.

"Didn't you say he could get a transfer?" Tess asked.

"You could always get a transfer to his division," he reminded her.

No, that would be too easy and she wouldn't be able to annoy him as much at work, he thought.

"Anyone would think you don't want to see me at work Alec," Tess replied. "Oh, so that's it? You don't want me to see you with your little blonde DC?" she added.

"Stop it Tess," Alec warned her. "Rose has nothing to do with it and you know it. You know how the chief feels about us working together, moving to another division would be of more benefit. You do know that from Monday that applications for training are being accepted?"

He knew already that Tess was mad about that and she would lose control of some of those working in the same office.

"You're just trying to undermine me Alec," Tess replied.

"No Tess, I am trying to encourage those who want a promotion," Alec told her, shaking his head. "I expect there will be a number of applications."

Rose and her mother had been shopping, Jackie happy to find some new shops to look in.

"So do ya like it here Mum?" Rose asked as they stopped at a coffee shop.

"Yeah, it's nice here, not as crowded," her mother laughed. "So, what happens here? Nothing bad I hope?"

"I've not been here that long," Rose laughed back. "From what I've been reading in the reports though, not much by the look of it. Hope it stays like this. I can't believe I got a case of my own to work on."

"Yeah, that was lucky," Jackie agreed. "How are ya gettin' on with it?"

"Fine, my boss says I'm doing well with it. It should all be cleared up on Monday. Bet that puts Tess in a bad mood."

They both laughed at the thought.

"Wonder if they've been back to that pub so she can see if we're there again," Jackie joked.

"Wouldn't put it past her," Rose replied. "I'm not going back there, just in case. Hope we don't see her at the supermarket, that's all I need. She didn't like it when I started standing up for myself."

"Yeah, bet she didn't," Jackie agreed. "Good for you sweetheart. When ya pass the exam, you'll be the same rank as her."

"Well, I'll be told when I'm ready, I have a good teacher," Rose replied. "Not sure if I have what it takes to be a DI though. Tess obviously doesn't have it," Rose smiled at the though.

"That's some consolation," Jackie laughed.

"Come on Mum, let's get the supermarket over and done with."

"Well at least the prices are cheaper here," Jackie replied.

The following week, Rose got praised for solving the case she'd been given, insisting her friend Kate deserved just as much praise. On the Tuesday morning, when everyone had arrived, Alec called for their attention. Tess was watching Rose's reaction to Alec standing in front of everyone. There was something going on, Tess had convinced herself.

Dave had told her to watch how Rose looked at Alec from now on and she would be able to tell if her husband was cheating on her. That lunchtime, they sneaked into the garage again but Tess had stopped him before he went too far, as usual.

"Tess, relax why don't you?" Dave had told her. "Geez, you're as bad as my wife, she won't let me go any further either. I may as well stick with her."

"You're a selfish s.o.b," Tess replied, adjusting her clothing. "What do expect against a garage wall?"

"I'm the one leaning against the wall," he reminded her. "Think yourself lucky the traffic sergeant hasn't caught us yet."

"Don't talk to me about him," Tess told him. "He's telling me all kinds of things about Alec and his little girlfriend when they park the car."

Dave couldn't help but burst out laughing when they got outside.

"What did I tell you Tess?" he laughed even more. "How long are they out? More than just asking questions, I'll bet."

"Stop it Dave," Tess was about to slap him.

"You don't still want to have sex with him?" Dave sounded surprised.

"None of your business," Tess replied, walking off towards the canteen as someone came out.

She tried to make it look like that she had not just been having sex with Dave in the garage but someone would notice something odd about them always using that door at the back if they weren't more careful about going in separately.

Rose was miles away as Jo nudged her when she saw Tess appear.

"What's she looking around for?" Jo asked them all.

"Yeah, she's always disappearing," Kate agreed. "Wonder what she's up to?"

"Bet she is seeing Dave Harris then?" Trish wondered.

"I wouldn't be that surprised," Jo replied, seeing Rose wasn't joining in. "What do you think Rose?"

"What?" Rose found her voice and snapped out of her stare. "Tess and Dave Harris? Probably. Mind you, if she is sneaking around with him, why is she always having a go at me?"

"What's she been saying to you Rose?" Kate asked her.

"She only tried to drag me into her grudges against DI Hardy on Friday night," Rose admitted.

"Again?" Trish asked her.

"Well I started just walking off if she's waiting," Rose told them. "I feel sorry for him. He keeps saying if she carries on, we'll give her something to complain about for real."

"Seriously?" Trish almost spluttered on her cup of coffee. "Didn't think he'd go that far."

"Hey, why not do it?" Jo nudged her again. "Just think how much fun we could have, just the four of us and Hardy?"

Alec had called in to get a sandwich and a drink and saw the four of them laughing. He hoped it was about Tess but as he was paying for the items, Tess spotted him.

"Not sitting with her then?" she nodded towards Rose, who had her back to them.

"Leave it Tess, I'm warning you," Alec replied, wanting to get back to his office but thinking why not stay just to annoy Tess.

Tess just huffed and went to rejoin her friends.

"Where have you been Tess?" one of them asked her.

"Never mind," Tess replied to try and not let on where she'd been.

Rose saw Alec get up again, the others not noticing.

"I'm off to the ladies room," she told the others.

"We'll be along," Kate replied as the others were checking their phones.

Tess saw Alec leaving, then Rose followed a few minutes later, thinking it was no coincidence.

"Ses you all later," Tess told her friends, meaning to find out what Alec and Rose were up to.

Rose caught up with Alec as he waited for the lift.

"Not staying with your friends?" he asked her.

"I don't have the need to check my phone like the others," Rose laughed as the lift bell rang and someone was just getting out.

The door closed just before Tess got to it, cursing to herself for not being faster or had Tyler closed the door on purpose? She wouldn't put it past her. She'd heard Rose getting praised by Alec for finishing off the case she'd been given, the two DCs had gone out earlier and returned to applause as everyone had heard two petty thieves had been booked and were to appear in court at a later date.

Rose had blushed the colour of her name but her friend had taken it all in her stride.

"You and your friend seem to make a good team," Alec broke the silence when they were in the lift.

"Yeah? Thanks. Those two clowns were idiots, it wasn't that hard to actually catch them," Rose insisted.

"Indeed," Alec agreed. "I thought you would be able to handle it, with a little help. See, you are already making a name for yourself," he smiled as they arrived at their floor.

"I think I saw Tess, just as the lift door was closing," Rose admitted as they got out.

"So you hurried to close it?" Alec raised his eyebrows.

"No!" Rose laughed as Alec opened the other door. "I wish I'd thought of that."

"I just bet you do," Alec replied as she stopped. "Don't let me stop you."

"Sorry but she asks for it, really she does," Rose told him as they carried on walking.

"I agree with you, she has changed a lot, for the worse," he admitted.

"Sorry," Rose tried to be serious.

"No matter. We had best move, she will be following us no doubt."

"Hasn't she got anything better to do?" Rose wondered.

"No, apparently," Alec replied.

"Well, I'm off to the ladies room, she'd better not decide to follow me, I'm just in the mood for her," Rose admitted.

"She will no doubt go to the office to see if we are sat talking," Alec told her.

"I never meant to get caught up in all this, honestly," Rose replied. "I'd best go."

They went their separate ways, both wondering why Rose had been somehow got caught up in it all, Tess being seemingly hell-bent on getting proof the two of them were having an affair.

Chapter 13

Tess was determined Rose and Alec would be heading for his office before everyone got back from lunch but just as she came out of the lift, being annoyed it had stopped on the way up, she saw the doors at the far end of the corridor closing. Should she follow and see if it was Tyler or go to Alec's office and find them together?

She supposed she could glance into the main office and see if Alec was on his own, then go confront Rose Tyler. She'd get the blonde officer one way or another but she knew the said officer would go crying to Alec. There had to be a way around this.

As she walked past their office, it suddenly dawned on her how to approach the matter of Alec cheating. Alec had accused her of stopping officers going for promotions so why wouldn't it work on Tyler? Threaten to hold the young officer back if she didn't stop messing around?

Heading for the ladies room, she had to quickly think of something. Rose was just washing her hands and was then going to comb her hair as the door opened. She jumped as she saw Tess through the mirror.

"I saw you leaving just after Alec did," Tess spoke first.

"So? What of it?" Rose replied, getting tired of Tess complaining about everything, big or small she did.

"You must have caught up with him then? I bet you closed the lift doors on purpose when you saw me?" Tess accused her.

Rose spluttered with laughter.

"You're kidding, right?" Rose managed to laugh back. "Geez, how was I to know you'd come running after me? You don't scare me Tess and yes, everyone else calls you that inside the station and during my lunchbreak, I'm off duty."

"Don't think you'll get away with it in the office," Tess huffed, wanting a showdown.

"Give it up Tess, there is nothing going on between me and Alec, get it into ya head," Rose replied, putting her comb away. "What is it with you? Are ya that insecure ya think every female officer in the station's after him?"

"Of course I don't," Tess denied it. "Only you, do I have something to worry about?"

"Don't make me laugh Tess," Rose turned to face her. "We just work together. I'm learning so much in doing so."

"I just bet you do," Tess laughed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rose wanted to know, thinking everyone would be coming in soon before returning to work.

"You know full well, don't pretend you don't," Tess replied, even more annoyed that the young DC was daring to call her by her first name. "And don't you dare call me Tess in the office."

"Ooh, now I'm scared," Rose laughed.

"You may think it's funny now but you have no idea what I can do," Tess told her.

"Such as?" Rose replied, inspecting her fingernails casually.

Then Rose pushed her hair on one side behind her ear, revealing her rather tame earrings she'd started to wear at work.

"Typical for someone from London," Tess pointed to them.

"Hey, I don't care who ya are," Rose retaliated. "We're equal until it's time to go back to work."

"Just remember that," Tess told her. "I don't know how Alec puts up with you. Oh, you don't act the same way with him do you?" Tess realised. "Even if you did, he'd not say anything, would he? You have him wrapped around your little finger."

"What?" Rose tried to be serious.

"No need to deny anything," Tess replied, hearing the sound of voices outside and knowing more female staff would be in shortly. "I'm warning you. Stay away from Alec when you're not working or I'll see you fail any tests you put in for to become a DS."

"You can't do that, it's nothing to do with you," Rose told Tess.

"You seem to forget that I'm in charge of the DCs and other staff in the office," Tess reminded her. "The fact you work with Alec is immaterial, it still comes down to me to give approval who is ready to be promoted."

Rose was about to say something when the door opened so she turned to leave before the room got crowded. What was Tess playing at, trying to intimidate her, Rose wondered as she saw her friends at the other end of the corridor. They waited for her to catch up.

"So that's where you got to?" Trish laughed. "Wondered why you suddenly left."

Rose tried to brush it off.

"Well, you three were busy with ya phones," she tried to laugh back.

"Yeah but we noticed the wicked witch of the west followed you," Jo tried to be serious.

"Don't worry, I saw her and closed the lift doors," Rose grinned, since Alec already thought she had actually done it.

"Don't blame ya," Kate agreed, seeing Tess emerge from the ladies room. "Don't tell me she was in the ladies room with you?"

"Please say you ignored her and didn't antagonise her?" Trish went serious.

"Would I antagonise her?" Rose asked, trying to look innocent.

"You did!" Jo laughed as they went into their office. "You can tell us all about it later and don't hold anything back."

"Would I do that?" Rose smiled as she went to her desk, seeing Alec look up when he heard voices.

When Rose hadn't come back from her visit to the ladies room, to him it meant one of two things. Either she was taking her time, which he knew all about how women liked to do that, what with combing their hair and fixing their makeup or Rose had been cornered by Tess again like the other Sunday. This time, Rose's mother wasn't there to rescue her, not that he thought Rose couldn't have handled that Sunday in the pub on her own.

He was getting worried that it bothered Rose she was getting caught up with Tess and her list of grudges. So he was relieved when Rose came back in with her friends, even though he wished she'd been quicker so Tess did indeed see them sitting talking. He was beginning to enjoy getting Tess all worked up at the slightest thing and he was sure Rose did close the lift doors on purpose earlier, even though she had denied it.

He waited a few minutes, then got up to call Rose into his office, just as Tess was returning. Tess was annoyed others had pushed in front of her as she watched Rose dodge them to get out and had to wait. Now, she was sure Rose would have used the time to get to Alec's office and tell him what she'd just been warned about. Alec would of course take the blonde's side.

"Everything okay?" Alec asked Rose as he motioned for her to sit after she'd closed the door.

"Yeah, Tess found me though," Rose bit her bottom lip. Alec wishing she'd stop doing that.

"I guessed she would have done when she did not follow me," Alec admitted, sitting back in his chair and Rose noticing his tie wasn't straight again.

When had he started to do that, Rose wondered.

"Did she give you any trouble?" he then wanted to know, trying not to say anything about her biting her bottom lip, since he shouldn't be looking.

"Sir, I can't come running to you every time she says something, can I?" Rose replied. "It was nothing, honestly."

"Then why don't I believe you it was nothing, knowing what she is like?" Alec told her.

"I told her she couldn't say anything since I was off duty," Rose tried to bluff. "She reckoned I'd closed the lift doors on purpose, that's all."

"I'm not so sure it was just that, was it?" Alec sat forward again, Rose wishing he wouldn't do that when his tie was like that and he'd just started unfastening his top button, like today.

Geez, Rose thought, trying to ignore it and to act normally.

"Just her usual, me working with you," she tried to get away with it.

"What else Rose, tell me," he insisted, leaning back in his chair again, Rose wishing he'd make his mind up which made him look more serious.

"I don't want to cause trouble between ya," Rose reminded him.

"I think we are a little past that," Alec told her. "Don't you? Look Rose, you can't cause any more trouble between Tess and I, she is determined to drag you into it all the time. The thing we have to worry about is how far she goes with it."

"I didn't come here to make trouble Alec, honestly. I came here because of the training I could get. You have no idea what it means to me, to get promoted to detective sergeant. I was always skipping school to mess around with my mates and ended up with a dead-end job."

"I read your file Rose, you have no need to explain," Alec insisted. "You have more than made up for it, just look where you are now."

"Yeah but I hadn't reckoned on coming up against a brick wall called Tess," Rose smiled.

"She cannot stop you going for promotion, not when I have the final say," Alec insisted. He saw the look on Rose's face. "What did she say about it? You may as well tell me."

"Yeah, then she'll go ballistic," Rose replied.

"We will see about that. Did she say she could block any chance of you getting promoted?" he asked her.

Rose just looked awkwardly at him and with that, he made her jump by getting up and yelling for Tess at the top of his voice, making everyone look up from what they were doing.

Tess was fuming when she heard Alec yell her name and everyone heard. She was also fuming that all eyes were on Alec, then her as she got up and Tyler was already in his office. The little blonde DC had told him what had gone on in the ladies room, had she?

She went in through the open office door, seeing Rose suddenly inspect her nails again and she slammed the door closed.

"Sit down Tess," he suggested, Rose trying to move her chair but there was nowhere for it to go.

Tess was the one to move her chair as she reluctantly sat down next to Rose.

"Really, did you have to do that?" Tess wanted to know. "What's she doing in here, aren't you sending her out?"

"Stop it Tess, you know why you are here," Alec told her.

"So she did come crying to you? That didn't take long," Tess replied sarcastically.

"Hey, I'm here ya know," Rose spoke up, getting a warning look from Alec as if to say he would deal with it.

"Yes, what exactly are you still here for?" Tess wanted to know, too busy looking at Rose to notice anything. "You told him about the conversation we just had then? I never thought you would have the nerve to."

"I insisted she told me what bothered her upon her return," Alec told Tess.

"Oh of course you would Alec," Tess almost laughed but she was too annoyed to laugh. "She easily gets sympathy out of you and you fall for it every time."

Rose was also getting annoyed with Tess but not more than Alec was.

"Stop it Tess, Rose did not have to say anything, I have a pretty good idea what was said by you. You tried to warn her against putting in for a promotion, just like you did with everyone else around here," Alec told her.

"Really, we shouldn't be discussing anything in front of a junior officer," Tess replied.

"If it involves Rose, then she stays," Alec insisted.

"You're supposed to be on my side Alec," Tess huffed.

"Not if you are holding officers back," Alec replied. "I have already warned you about that Tess and that includes Rose. Tell me exactly what she said to you Rose."

Rose wasn't so sure that was a good idea. Alec noticed she was reluctant to say anything in front of Tess.

"Whatever was said to you, just disregard it," Alec suggested. "Just tell me if you want to."

He knew it was beginning to get to her, despite the brave front she put on. Rose however came to the conclusion that if she didn't speak up, Tess may worm her way out of it and she had to do this for her friends, as well as herself.

"She warned me to stay away from you, outside of working hours," Rose told him reluctantly. "She can't do that, can she? Tell me who I can and can't talk to, I don't even report to her, do I?"

Tess was about to say something but Alec beat her to it.

"What do you have to say to that Tess? Do you deny you warned Rose? I already told you that it's part of her job to drive me to and from work," Alec reminded her.

"That may be so Alec but you're letting her get far too friendly about it," Tess replied.

"What?" Rose was getting tired of Tess going on at her. "Well excuse me for talkin' to him then," she turned to Tess, Alec seeing she was about to erupt.

"What do you have to talk to him about, outside work?" Tess wanted to know. "He's your superior officer, you don't have to be so friendly with him."

"Tess," Alec started to say but Rose got up suddenly, pushed past Tess and was out of the door before he could stop her, Rose not even closing the door.

Her friends had seen them all in Alec's office and were speculating what it was about.

"Geez, something's wrong," Jo had said to the others in a low voice.

"You're not kidding," Kate agreed. "Do you think it's something to do with Tess following Rose to the ladies room?"

"Has to be," Trish told them. "What happened in there?"

"We're about to find out," Jo replied as Rose came bursting out of the office.

Rose passed by the three of them, Alec calling her name after her.

"I'll go after her," Kate volunteered, loud enough so Alec could hear.

Alec just nodded and closed the office door.

"Really Alec, there's no need to go after her," Tess laughed.

"Get out of here Tess," Alec replied, looking even more annoyed than he already was.

"Well you called me in," Tess told him as she got up.

"Leave her alone Tess and no more threats or I will take it to the chief and I'll make sure you get transferred immediately. You wanted to work with Dave Harris, now you will get the chance."

"Don't talk to me like that," Tess turned back to face him. "Look what Tyler's doing to you, taking her side all the time over taking my side. When did you start wearing your tie like that anyway? I'll tell you when Alec, since she came here. I was right, you're trying to impress her," she goaded him.

"What?" Alec replied. "Since when did you take notice how I look Tess?" he raised his eyebrows. "Since Rose arrived eh?"

"Stop it Alec, can't you see what she's doing?" Tess asked him. "She's just like the rest of the hopefuls out there, always trying to get your attention. What was so special about her that the chief thought he was being clever by putting her with you, over picking someone from the office? I'll tell you what."

"Stop it Tess and get back to work," Alec insisted, picking up the desk phone to call the chief about her. "You won't have to worry about it much longer, will you?"

"You wouldn't dare get me transferred Alec," Tess laughed as he waited for her to leave. "You know very well the chief won't move me over her."

"Won't he?" Alec challenged her. "When he selected Rose to work with me when you insisted none of the others did? Why do you think he agreed to take her on? Why did no-one apply from another division? I will tell you why, they heard they were up against you."

"Huh," Tess huffed as she finally got up to leave and Alec's finger hovered on the dial of the phone.

"Leave Rose alone or I will have you in front of the chief for disobeying an order," Alec further warned her before she could protest further.

"Well, that proves one thing," Tess turned as she was about to leave. "You care more about her than you do me."

With that, she went off, leaving Alec to close the door. Who did he think he was talking to, Tess huffed further as she went to her desk, noticing one of Rose's friends was missing, probably gone after the little blonde. Well that proved it, Tess thought, Alec was having an affair with his DC, she didn't need any more proof.

Dave had been right, she was being made a fool out of by her husband and if she thought for one minute Dave would actually leave his wife, then she'd leave Alec and take Daisy with her, the teenager liking Rose was one thing but finding out her father was having an affair with her was another.

Kate had caught up with Rose, who was more mad than upset as Kate had entered the ladies room.

"What was all that about?' Kate asked her. "Come on Rose, it had to be something, the way you stormed out of Hardy's office."

"Her. What ya think?" Rose replied quietly, having yelled at herself in the mirror beforehand. "Sorry Kate, I don't wanna take it out on you or the other two."

"Don't worry about it Rose, we're your friends," Kate assured her, going to hug her.

"She makes me so mad Kate," Rose told her friend as they leaned against the sinks.

"She makes us all mad Rose, long before you arrived. How were you to know what she'd be like when you came here?" Kate tried to assure her. "What did she say to you?"

"She said I was gettin' too friendly with DI Hardy to start with," Rose admitted. "Earlier, in here, she warned me to stay away from him outside of work."

"Seriously?" Kate looked at her. "We shouldn't have encouraged you I suppose?"

"It's nothing to do with that," Rose tried to laugh. "He was just as bad, trust me. She wanted him to drive himself to and from work but he insisted I still did it, that got her even more madder at me," Rose admitted.

"You already told us," Kate reminded her. "What happened just now?"

"He threatened to have Tess moved to another division," Rose admitted. "He told me a while ago."

"Good, I hope he does," Kate laughed. "So why did you storm out of his office?"

"I told ya. She said we're gettin' too friendly," Rose looked away for a moment.

"Come on Rose, I promise I won't tell the others unless you want me to. Who else do you have to talk to around here?" Kate laughed.

"Promise?" Rose wanted to be sure. Kate nodded. "I think Tess might be right. I think we are gettin' a bit too friendly lately but I really want to go for that promotion and he's a really good teacher. I mean look at that case he gave me? He even encouraged me to get some help."

"Rose he didn't tell you to get help because he didn't think you could do it on your own," Kate told her. "He knew you could do it on your own, he just wanted to see how you worked with someone other than him."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Rose had to admit.

"Rose, he has every confidence in you, geez, we're all jealous you get to work with him, Tess put paid to that though. She has a lot to answer for, trust me. Now, we're all behind you because you helped us all to be able to apply for more training and you stick up for yourself," Kate told her further.

"Kate, it wasn't right you were all getting held back. Hardy had suspected that was the reason but he sorted that out, not me," Rose insisted. "What about what I just told ya though? What if I am startin' to get too friendly with him? What do I do about it?"

"Just be careful Rose, not just of Tess but your career," Kate warned her. "We don't want to fall out with you over it but if it gets out of hand, we'll try and stick by you, I promise."

Chapter 14

Alec was furious with Tess, what with her implying Rose shouldn't even be there and for making Rose storm off. He had to trust her friend could calm her down somewhat, he could hardly barge into the ladies room himself. For one, it would look odd and she may yell at him for doing so and tell him to get out.

Now, Tess may have done the damage she'd wanted to cause all along, that of Rose no longer wanting to work with him and she would have won. He hoped Rose wouldn't give Tess the satisfaction, she had been so strong about it up until now but it could be the final straw.

He saw Kate come back in and she waved to him and he nodded back, to hell with what Tess thought. If it wasn't for Daisy, he would leave and it may yet come to that but would it give Tess even more ammunition to fire at him? She could do more damage by implying he'd left her to spend more time with Rose and even turn Daisy against him.

He saw Rose come back in and go to her desk. It was crunch time, would she pack her things and walk out and ask to be put on leave until she could transfer back to London? He tried not to look like he was interested.

Rose was still mad at Tess but Kate had asked her not to give in.

"Come on Rose, are you coming back in with me?" she had asked.

"In a minute," Rose agreed. "I don't want Tess thinking she can walk all over me and that you dragged me back," she'd tried to joke.

"Yeah, wouldn't want that," Kate had laughed.

Kate had sat down at her desk and Jo leaned over to her.

"What's going on?" she asked Kate.

"Yeah, Rose looked like she was really mad," Trish agreed.

"She was," Kate admitted in a low voice. "Tess as usual, she'll tell you later, don't worry, I managed to calm her down."

"Good thing you did, we can't let Tess win, not anymore anyway," Trish told her. "We've had enough of that and won't have to put up with for much longer, thanks to Rose."

"Yeah, we should hear something soon, if Hardy kept his promise," Jo agreed.

"We still have Rose to thank for that," Kate replied as she noticed Tess looking at them. "I just invented a new nickname for Tess," she then whispered to Jo.

"Can't wait to hear it," Jo whispered back, then whispered to Trish, who had to stop herself from bursting out laughing when Kate scribbled on a bit of paper 'Wizard of Oz' and passed it to her.

Jo managed to pass it to Trish just as Tess got up and approached their desks.

"Any reason you've all stopped work?" Tess asked them with her arms folded. "Who gave you permission to go out after DC Tyler?" she then spoke to Kate.

"DI Hardy did," Kate turned to her. "Excuse me but since when did we need permission for going to the ladies room? DI Hardy nodded for me to follow Rose anyway."

"I never saw him," Tess replied. "I suggest you all get back to work."

Kate felt like saying well you wouldn't, would you but kept quiet.

Tess went back to her desk and the three of them had just about enough of the DS bossing them around.

"Huh, we should all go at the same time," Trish suggested.

After all, it had been Tess's fault Rose had stormed out in the first place, she then thought.

Alec saw what was going on but telling Tess to stop going after Rose's friends would be a waste of time. He knew what she was trying to do, by starting on Rose's friends, she hoped they'd get tired of it and blame poor Rose for it and they'd stay away from her. By losing her friends, Rose would then want to leave. Well he hoped Tess would fail and Rose's friends would stick by her.

At least Rose hadn't given Tess the satisfaction of coming back in with her friend, making it look like she'd been persuaded. He didn't really have anything much to do with running the office, Tess had taken charge even when she was still partnered with him but things had to change. Tess had stopped people applying for more training and that was about to end when the chief sorted it out so there would be less for Tess to boss around but until then, she seemed determined to make the most of it.

He turned his monitor off, grabbed his jacket and thought he would rescue poor Rose by making up an excuse to get her out.

"Rose," he called as he closed his office door. "We have somewhere to go."

Rose got her things and followed him, everyone watching her.

He knew that Tess would find some reason to complain when they got back but he'd deal with her later. They walked silently towards the lift and Alec pressed the button.

"Though you may need to get out," he told her as the lift arrived, thankfully with no-one already in it.

"Ya mean ya thought I needed rescuing?" Rose smiled as she pressed the button for the garage.

"If that is how you see it," he half smiled, glad to see she hadn't lost her sense of humour.

"I'm sorry but she really is a cow," Rose replied, leaning against the side of the lift as it descended.

"I already know," Alec told her. "It just took recent events to make me realise I already knew and I apologise, I should have seen it sooner."

"It's not your fault she's like that," Rose reminded him.

"Maybe not but I just let her get on with things in the office," he admitted.

"How did ya know she was gonna hold everyone back?" Rose wanted to know as they arrived in the basement.

"I'm the DI, I should have seen the signs," he replied as they got out of the lift.

He went to push the door to the garage open and allowed Rose to go first. It was then he realised Tess was getting information from the traffic sergeant, she had to be. He didn't say anything to Rose as they drove out of the garage, Rose then asking where they were going.

"Oh I don't know? What are you working on now?" he wanted to know.

"Back to cold cases," Rose smiled as she glanced at him through the mirror.

"I think we can find you something better than that," he replied, seeing her watching him and the road at the same time. "I bet I know where some of the provocation from Tess has been coming from."

"Really?" Rose sounded surprised as they stopped at some traffic lights. "Oh, ya think it's the traffic sergeant?"

"Don't you?" he asked as the lights changed.

"It makes sense," Rose agreed, wondering why he'd brought it up now. "Still doesn't tell me where we're going," she laughed.

"How would you like to do some spying on Tess?" he replied.

"Seriously?" Rose sounded surprised.

"See what detective skills you have learned," he teased her. "Why don't you pull in here?"

Rose indicated to pull into a roadside café parking area. Still confused, she sat for a moment when she'd driven into a parking space.

"What about gettin' you home?" Rose wondered.

"Don't worry about me," he told her.

"But she knows what car I drive," Rose reminded him.

"Then you need to learn surveillance techniques," Alec replied. "Are you getting out?"

Rose stopped staring in disbelief at him and took the seatbelt off.

"Have you never been shown how to follow someone from a distance? Besides, it may be too obvious if you follow her car. Why not start by following her to the garage and see who she talks to?" he suggested as he got out of the car. "She is always complaining about you waiting for me in my office, has she not?"

"Ah!" Rose giggled. "That I can do."

"Good. You can start tonight, we will make sure that we are back in time. You know I can't apologise enough for how Tess is treating you?"

"I know, it's not your fault," Rose replied. "She doesn't need any help anyway, she seems to do well on her own."

"Aye, she does," Alec had to agree. "She could have picked on anyone, it's not just you."

They found a table by the window and Alec said it was his treat so Rose ordered coffee and chocolate cake and Alec just the coffee.

"Sorry," Rose grinned as she saw the price of a slice of fancy cake.

"You can expect those prices," Alec let it go.

"Yeah, back home, ya could get a whole one for that price," Rose laughed.

"Even in London?" Alec wondered, raising his eyebrows, Rose still wishing he wouldn't do that.

She was beginning to think he did it on purpose, Alec thinking the same of Rose when she bit her bottom lip. He often wondered if she knew the effect it had but he shouldn't even be looking by rights. Rose knew he was delaying their return to have an effect on Tess.

When had he got to delaying going back, he wondered as they got back in the car.

"So, do we stay quiet when we get back?" Rose wanted to know as they set off again.

"That would give the game away, don't you think?" Alec replied. "Just act normally, now we know Tess will find out she made no difference."

"Yeah, I suppose so?" Rose agreed. "I'm sorry but I don't care what she thinks any more, my friends know about her and others will get tired of her, won't they?"

"I expect so," Alec replied as they headed back to the station. "Don't worry about it."

Tess had been even more furious that Alec had spoken to Rose then they'd gone out. Rose's friends however had smiled to themselves that Alec was on their friend's side.

"Tess looks like she's about to erupt," Trish whispered to Jo. "Don't know about you but I'm not putting my hand up to be excused to the ladies room. It's worse than being back at school or the academy."

"Even at the academy we were treated better," Jo replied.

When Rose didn't return, they went to make their drinks and sat talking at their desks.

"Don't really blame Rose for storming off earlier," Trish told them. "Wonder where she's got to?"

"Probably taking her time to get back at Tess," Kate smiled at the thought.

When Rose and Alec got back, Rose ignored Tess and went back to her desk, Alec already having reminded her about following Tess at home time.

"I can pretend I'm walking down with Kate," she had told him. "Then hide in the car so Tess doesn't see me."

"See, you already have the right idea," Alec had smiled on the way up in the lift. "You will be ready for stakeouts in no time."

"Hey hang on," Rose had laughed. "What about me and Kate following those two creeps we just arrested?"

Alec just let her out of the lift first, a smile on his face.

"That counted didn't it?" Rose asked as he held the door open.

"What do you think?" he replied dryly.

So, Rose still had a smile on her face as she entered the large office and knew her friends would be curious. She planned on following her friends out and give some excuse for doing so to them. She was very interested as to if she could catch Tess talking to the traffic sergeant. No wonder Tess had got worse than when she'd started there and that had been bad enough.

Maybe that Sunday in the pub had made her a bigger target though, she thought as she tried to get back to work.

When it came to home time, Tess was watching if Rose would go into Alec's office as usual and was surprised when she went to catch up with her friends.

"Hey, wait for me," Rose laughed as the three of them headed down the corridor, leaving a bemused Alec who thought Rose had the right idea.

"Hey Rose, not waiting behind tonight then?" Trish asked as she turned around.

"He said earlier to wait for him downstairs, he just had something to do," Rose replied, trying not to give the game away just yet.

"Yeah, where did you get to earlier?" Kate wanted to know as she pressed the lift button.

"Oh that?" Rose laughed. "He thought he'd get me out of the office before I started a cat fight with Tess."

"Never!" Jo laughed. "Oh, I'd have loved to have seen that."

"So would I," Jo agreed as the lift arrived. "Claws at fifty paces."

"Too right," Rose replied. "Trust me, I felt like it, she's a bloomin' liability."

"Be careful Rose," Kate warned her. "What did Hardy think of it?"

"Tell us tomorrow," Trish told her as they arrived at the ground floor.

"Yeah, I will," Rose agreed as Jo and Trish got out and she pushed the button for the basement.

"Come on Rose, you can tell me," Kate encouraged her.

They got out of the lift but didn't go through the other doors to the garage.

"He agrees she's got worse," Rose admitted.

"Well, that's something," Kate told her. "Why you though?"

"I don't know but it could have been anyone who actually became his partner. Trust me, I never asked for it, I just got told when I arrived," Rose replied. "Maybe because I'd just arrived, the chief thought DI Hardy was the best DI to train with?"

"Well he is I suppose?" Kate agreed, moving forward to open the double doors. "He probably thought since Tess knew the rest of us wanted to work with him, he'd sneak you in instead? You know everyone was envious of you when you first arrived?"

"Sorry, I never meant to step on anyone's toes," Rose told her.

"I told you, no-one blames you, we all knew we were up against Tess," Kate reminded her. "See you in the morning and we want all the details," she laughed.

"Kate," Rose called after her friend. "What do you mean by you were envious?"

"Seriously? Seeing how Tess treats you?" Kate wanted to know. "No-one wished that on you."

Kate went off and Rose decided she'd best wait in the car before either Tess came down or the traffic sergeant was on the prowl and it could be a while before Alec could rescue her again. She got in the car, tilted the seat back so she couldn't be seen easily and waited for Tess to arrive.

The traffic sergeant was sure he'd heard someone talking but glancing around, he only saw Kate getting into her car. He knew Rose now came down with Hardy every night, probably just to annoy him that he couldn't get the blonde on her own again, which was a shame. None of the other female officers were half as good as she was.

He bet that Hardy just wanted to keep her for himself. Still, it meant he could stir up trouble with his wife.

Rose thought Tess was delaying on purpose and had probably stormed into Alec's office to ask what was going on. She wasn't far wrong as Tess took the opportunity to find out just where Alec and Rose had been.

Chapter 15

As soon as Rose had left, Tess was up like a shot and marched into Alec's office just as he was closing down his laptop. He knew she meant trouble as she stood in front of his desk. He tried his best to just ignore her but failed as she began her long list of grudges.

"So, where did you get to earlier?" Tess wanted to know.

"Non of your business Tess," Alec replied, getting up to put his jacket on.

"Fine, I'll ask her then?" Tess challenged him.

"You leave Rose alone," Alec warned her as he then tried to straighten his tie, wondering why he was even doing it but it was a distraction from facing Tess.

He seemed to be doing that a lot lately, he mused.

"I know why you're defending her Alec, you can't fool me. You are having an affair with her," Tess told him.

"What?" he almost spluttered, making those who remained turn his way.

"So you're not denying it then?" Tess replied.

"Of course I'm denying it," Alec tried to recover from the direct accusation.

It was one thing to think Tess was trying to infer it but another to actually hear her saying it.

"Want to talk about affairs?" he then did recover.

"What are you on about Alec?" Tess wanted to know.

"What about you and Dave Harris then?" Alec replied.

"Seriously?" Tess almost laughed, wondering why she'd been found out.

Then she realised one too many people had seen her follow Dave back into the canteen through the always open fire exit. She bet anything that Tyler and her mates were trying to catch her out to get back at her.

"Oh, so your trying to cover it up and pin the blame on me?" Tess defended herself.

"Come on, you've been seen Tess," Alec tried to bluff to get her to admit it.

He knew Rose and her friends already suspected as much, what with Rose telling him about seeing Tess and Dave talking in the corridor when she'd first arrived.

"Oh, you want to talk about being seen then Alec? What about you and Rose disappearing from the canteen, then being seen near the lifts? I saw her myself going after you," Tess told him.

"Yes, fine, we were talking," Alec admitted it. "What of it? I was telling her she did good work on that case."

"Well I was told you were looking cosy for just praising her work," Tess replied.

"This is getting us nowhere Tess," Alec had decided he'd had enough and Rose was down in the garage, probably alone and the traffic sergeant would have noticed by now.

He'd had to rescue her before but he was sure Tess was delaying him on purpose, if she'd been talking to the sergeant. Was she laying a trap for Rose, in exchange for getting information from the man? If so, Rose could be in danger of being cornered with no-one to help if everyone had already left.

He got up suddenly, making Tess jump.

"I'm not finished yet," Tess protested.

"Oh yes you are," Alec replied, picking up his mobile and finding Rose's number as he squinted at the screen.

Why was the print so small, he asked himself as he found what he wanted. He started to leave, Tess still standing there shouting after him.

Rose was well aware people were getting in their cars and driving off as she lowered the back of the chair a bit more. The traffic sergeant would have noticed as well, now she was getting a bit worried. If Tess and been getting information from the man, she could have made some kind of deal and that's why she'd not come into the garage yet.

She heard a noise from around the other side and reached for her mobile as she cautiously looked around. She jumped as her phone rang and saw Alec's name.

"Hello?" she almost whispered. "Where are you?"

"Rose, be careful down there," Alec told her as he dashed towards the lift then pressed the down button repeatedly.

He'd been amused that it had made Rose smile every time he did it.

"Ya don't have to tell me that," Rose spoke a little louder. "Most cars have gone, can ya get a move on?" she asked him.

"I'm on my way, lock the car doors, now," he told her, pressing the lift button for the basement when it arrived. "Tess has been delaying me on purpose and if I am right, she made a deal with the traffic sergeant."

Why had he never bothered to find out the name of the man, he asked himself as the lift stopped at the ground floor and him silently cursing as an older woman got in and asked if he was going up.

"No, did the lift indicator not show in which direction it was going?" he snapped as he quickly pressed the basement button again as she tried to reach the second floor button.

"Well you don't have to be rude," the woman replied as she pressed the floor she wanted.

Alec assumed she must be one of the cleaners, didn't she know he had a reputation for being rude? Well maybe not quite as much since the arrival of Rose, he supposed as the lift descended again.

"Geez, I thought as much," Rose replied, pressing the door lock button and being grateful the car had one on the dashboard and waiting for him to reply. "Alec?" she panicked.

She heard another noise and the next thing she knew, the traffic sergeant was standing at the side of the car. She let out a short scream of surprise, panicking Alec and him wishing it was one of those express lifts as it slowly descended.

"Rose, what's happening?" he wanted to know, trying to stay calm but he was angry with Tess for delaying him and for her exchanging information to hand Rose to the sergeant on a plate.

The woman gave him a strange look as the lift arrived in the basement.

"Hurry up," Rose shouted into the phone, trying to ignore the man who was now tapping on the window.

Did he really think she was going to open the door, Rose wondered.

"I'll be there in a tick," Alec told her as the lift door opened and the woman just tutted.

"Well get a move on, he's already here," Rose told him.

She knew it would take him a few moments to reach where the car was parked. So much for trying to catch Tess out then, she thought as the sergeant peered through the window.

"No good hiding in there Rose," the sergeant told her through the tiny opening of the widow that Rose had forgotten about.

She panicked some more as she realised the gap in the window wouldn't be able to be closed, since the engine wasn't switched on.

"Go away, my boss will be here in a minute," Rose shouted back, trying to get the annoying sergeant to leave. "He'll kick your ass back to school crossing patrol if ya don't go away."

"Is that the best you can do?" the sergeant laughed at her as he leaned on the roof of the car.

Then all of a sudden, he tried to prise the window open as he put his fingers through the gap. Rose let out another scream as Alec weaved his way through the remaining cars, cursing Tess again for delaying him. He'd wanted Rose to watch what Tess was up to, to see if she talked to the sergeant and now, he was putting Rose in danger of being caught by the man.

Who knew how quick the man could be, he thought as he caught a glimpse of the car Rose was in and saw the man reach through the larger gap he'd managed to make. Rose was wishing she'd never lowered the back of the seat as she tried to move but the man had grabbed the neck of the sweater she was wearing.

"Hey, get away from the car," Alec shouted loudly as he was almost there, just seeing Rose being grabbed hold of.

The sergeant didn't stop as Rose called Alec's name.

"Go away Hardy," the sergeant shouted. "Why should you get to keep her for yourself?"

The man still held onto poor Rose, who couldn't get away but thankfully, the man hadn't managed to force the window all the way down – yet.

"What are you talking about man?" Alec shouted back, wishing other officers were still around.

Alec was almost at the front of the car, seeing the look on Rose's face as she was being held.

"Let her go – now," Alec demanded.

"Back off," the sergeant warned him as with one hand, he pulled his baton out of the holder and held it up in Alec's direction. "I mean it. Now leave."

"You won't get away with this," Alec told the man. "Just let go of her or things will be worse for you."

The sergeant just laughed, waving the baton at Alec while Rose tried to get out of his grasp but her sweater was still firmly being held. When she saw the weapon, she was just thankful the man hadn't tried to smash the window.

"Stay calm Rose," Alec told her as he held his hands up, looking for a chance to grab the baton and the man at the same time.

Where was everyone when he needed them, Alec wondered. Even Dave Harris would do at present. Rose managed to nod, staying quiet. She had been so glad to see and hear Alec, she could kiss him right now but that would just make things worse with Tess, she thought. Things were bad enough as it was without giving Tess more ammunition to fire at her.

"I mean it, back away," the sergeant reminded Alec as he tightened his grip on poor Rose, who wished now she'd never suggested trying to catch Tess out.

Now, it was backfiring on them, Tess had delayed Alec on purpose, Rose thought as she looked at Alec, who just nodded slightly.

Alec had a plan but how could he tell Rose to try to break free? If he could just get her to startle the other man long enough for him to grab the baton that was holding him off from rescuing Rose. Then with the element of surprise, he could force the baton onto the floor, grab the arm that was holding Rose and then handcuff him. Well that was down to Rose, if she could surprise the man in the first place.

She was looking at him and although Alec thought she was tough, he could see she was scared he'd back away and leave her at the sergeant's mercy. Surely she knew he'd never do that?

"Rose," Alec called to her. "Are you okay?"

"That's up to you Hardy," the sergeant told him. "Now back away, slowly."

Alec put his hands up again, wishing he could signal to Rose that he'd never leave her.

"You know you are finished here," Alec told the man. "Let her go and you will get off lightly."

The man just laughed, waving the baton at Alec again.

"What do I have to lose? I'll tell everyone about you and the blonde here, you're married, your wife already suspects the two of you are having an affair. Why should you care if I let this one go or not?"

"So, you have been talking to my wife?" Alec replied.

"Yes, I told her all about you and this one here, how you take your time getting out of the car. Look, what you get up to, I don't think it's fair you keep her to yourself," the sergeant told Alec.

"Hey, I'm not a possession ya know," Rose spoke up.

"Be quiet," the sergeant warned her.

"Bloomin' cheek," Rose replied as he pulled her up by the neck of her sweater.

Rose was looking for any sign from Alec that he was about to rescue her again. She'd had a narrow escape that time but now wasn't looking too good. She didn't want the man to attack Alec with his baton but she also wanted to get away. She thought maybe Alec had a plan but what was it?

Maybe if she distracted the man, Alec would be free to grab hold of him? She had learned a lot from Alec, the least she could do was help him with his rescue attempt. She looked at him again, screwing up her face, trying to tell him she knew what he'd planned.

Alec heard the doors opening in the distance but all the remaining cars were at the other end, no-one would even come down here, would they? He dare not turn around, in case the man fancied his chances. He didn't know it was Tess, who had waited for him coming back to his office after rushing out. She was even more annoyed he'd gone running after the blonde when he'd suddenly called her.

She thought she'd heard voices in the distance but didn't bother over it. Alec and his DC would be long gone by now, Alec had no idea what she'd told the sergeant, she thought as she got in her car. It was just his excuse to get to the blonde, he just wouldn't listen when she'd tried to confront him. Maybe he did suspect something about herself and Dave after all and was getting his revenge.

Alec heard a car starting in the distance and wondered it was Tess. It was all his fault Rose was trapped in the car, if he'd not suggested she tried to catch Tess talking to the sergeant but he had and Rose had agreed. Now, who knew what would happen if he did back away and leave her? He was sure she'd fight back but the other man was bigger than she was.

He saw the man turn to Rose as she slowly tried to get free without the man doing something drastic to pin her down even further. A dozen things were running through her mind, like what if he suddenly opened the car door, still holding Alec off and even worse, force her further back? He could easily release the lock

Would Alec just stand by, she thought as Alec seemed to move slightly towards her. Why hadn't he thought of going around the other side of the car and tried to pull her out of the sergeant's grasp or would the man expect Alec to do that?

Alec had thought about it, the man holding him off couldn't be in two places at once. Should he chance it or would it just make things worse for Rose? He didn't even know if she'd had chance to lock the car doors, maybe the sergeant had just assumed she had and not bothered checking? That would be too easy, he then thought.

Something needed to be done and quickly, he already knew that and the chances of someone coming down where they were standing were pretty slim. Maybe a noise would distract the sergeant?

Rose was staying as still as she could so as not to provoke the man holding her but she had to think of something to aid any attempts by Alec to help her. Normally if a bloke grabbed her, she would knee them where it hurt but she was at a disadvantage. Then she thought maybe she should try talking to the sergeant again.

"Hey, ya won't get away with it ya know," she reminded the man at the side of her. "He was already on his way down here when ya grabbed me and trust me, he wouldn't have come down without telling anybody."

"Shut up," the sergeant told her while still holding Alec back. "You think he came down here just to rescue you?" he then laughed. "He's just like the rest of us, hell, have you seen the way he treats his wife? You should hear her going on about it, she never stops."

Alec could see what Rose was trying to do, exactly what she'd come down here before him for. If she couldn't get anything out of Tess, then Tess would have bound to have complained to someone other than her friends if she thought she could get her revenge.

"She put you up to this then?" Alec asked the sergeant.

"That's an understatement," the sergeant laughed some more. "Do you think I'm bothered she gets herself into trouble from you?"

"Bloomin' cheek," Rose huffed. "She called ya and said I was on my way down here, on my own?"

Alec had wondered why Tess had just watched Rose walk off with her friends before she'd come into his office. What the hell was wrong with her that she'd put Rose in danger? Even if she had a grudge against himself and Rose, was there any need to go that far?

"That explains a few things," Alec then thought out loud.

"You mean you don't already know Hardy?" the sergeant sounded surprised. "Tess had plenty to say about you and your little friend here."

"Hey, I'm not little," Rose complained.

"I said be quiet," she was reminded.

Rose folded her arms in response, willing the man to let go of her for just a second, then she'd show him if she was little or not. Alec wished Rose wouldn't provoke the sergeant and make things worse for her. Surely someone else would be coming down here for their cars? Why hadn't he told any officers to follow him, he then cursed himself for coming down here alone.

Then he wondered if he could call the man's bluff and agree with what Rose had just said, about telling someone? How was the sergeant to know that he hadn't?

"Back away from the car and make it easy on yourself," Alec stood his ground, also folding his arms and looking like he meant business.

"Now ya gettin' it," Rose smiled to herself. "About bloomin' time as well."

Chapter 16

Rose had been annoyed at being trapped in the car for so long. The sergeant hadn't backed down when Alec had told him to move away but she had to remain calm and trust her boss to get her out of this.

Alec was equally annoyed at the sergeant, how did the man think he was going to get away with this?

"You should know I have told someone in the office if they don't hear from me," Alec tried to bluff, looking at his watch. "In another few minutes, the garage will be swarming with uniformed officers."

The sergeant let out a nervous laugh.

"Nice try Hardy," the man replied, looking around.

"He won't be kidding," Rose played along with Alec's bluff.

"Seriously?" the sergeant replied.

Alec was wondering why no-one else had ventured down yet, then when he saw the time, he knew it wouldn't be long before those out on routine patrols would be coming back in to sign off and the next shift would be getting ready. He just had to keep the man talking or risk making a sudden move and hopefully, Rose would be able to get free.

Rose suddenly had an idea of her own as Alec was deciding what else to do. If she could quietly unlock the passenger door, she might be able to surprise the sergeant by distracting him so Alec could get nearer. She guessed there was only one way of finding out but Alec would have to be fast.

"You may as well give up now," Alec warned the sergeant. "You know you are finished now?"

"I'll say I was provoked," the sergeant replied, glancing at Rose, who was debating if Alec would guess what she was up to. "I'll say she was teasing me by playing hard to get and she invited me into her car, then when I tried to get her to move over, you came along and she thought you'd get jealous."

Rose had to suppress a laugh at the idea.

"Yeah. Like they're likely to believe that story," Rose told him.

"Shut up," she was told.

"Huh," Rose replied, looking towards Alec, who couldn't help but smile.

He hadn't realised that Tess was so petty that she'd go that far in setting Rose up to be cornered by the traffic sergeant. If what the man had just said was partly true, then he needed to confront Tess when he got home and ask her if she really knew how far the sergeant would go.

Well what did Tess think the sergeant was going to do? Ask Rose out on a date? Now though, it was getting out of hand and it had to end, sooner rather than later, Alec thought.

"Just let her out of the car," Alec asked again.

"Then what?" the sergeant wanted to know. "You arrest me? I don't think so. I have a better idea. You walk away and me and Rose here can shall I say, discuss things?"

"You have to be joking," Rose laughed. "Do ya think I'm letting ya in the car?"

"That's not going to happen," Alec told the sergeant.

"It will and you know it Hardy," the sergeant replied.

Alec hoped the man hadn't realised what time it was. The first of the patrol cars should be coming in any minute now and when they did, the drivers would be coming down this end so that those coming on duty could get away quickly once they'd been briefed.

"Ya can forget it, I'm not discussing anything with you," Rose objected.

Who was he kidding, she had thought. She glanced at the door locking button on the dashboard and moved her other arm slightly while her captor was talking to Alec. She looked towards Alec, who she thought looked like he'd moved forward slightly.

Alec had taken a few steps while the sergeant hadn't noticed and he was sure he could cover the remainder of the distance if Rose kept on talking. So he nodded slightly towards her, they had got on fairly well as a team and he knew she had learned a lot in the short time she had been here.

"You won't have a choice," she was then told by the sergeant. "Now open the door and you Hardy, don't try anything, I'll be locking the doors behind me. Now move over," he told poor Rose.

He can't be serious, Rose thought out loud but hoping she wouldn't be heard. Then she thought if she was seen going towards the door button, he'd be watching and think he'd won and Alec should be able to knock the baton out of the man's other hand and grab them both and arrest him.

Well that was a plan, Rose thought to herself this time. Once free to move, she would slide over to the passenger seat and get out. She had a good mind to go around the other side of the car and slap the creep's face for thinking she'd give in so easily. She was a Tyler, no-one messed with the Tyler women.

Alec had to admire how Rose was taking this so far and he knew he couldn't let her down.

"I said open the doors, now," Rose was reminded, making her jump. "Or do I have to force the window down further and drag you out of there?"

That was it, Alec was already losing the little patience he had and this was the final straw. He wasn't just going to stand by and see anything happening to Rose. Tess was in so much trouble for this when he got home, just let her try to deny it. She had certainly delayed him from following Rose, just long enough for the sergeant to gain an advantage.

Rose slowly reached out to the door button, trying to free herself and pretending she couldn't reach while she was being held.

"Stop stalling," she was warned as he didn't release the grip on her. "Stop pretending you can't reach."

"Well I can't reach," Rose protested.

"Just get on with it," she was told as the sergeant glanced at her.

It was just long enough for Alec to dash over to the car as he shouted for Rose to stop as her hand reached out. He was dreading that he wouldn't be able to stop the sergeant from getting into the car once the door was released and that he'd be threatened with the baton the man was still hold onto.

Rose's hand hovered over the button but she heard Alec telling her to stop. That surprised the sergeant enough for Rose to get free and she ducked her head down as Alec reached the man and wrestled the baton out of his hand, the object falling to the ground.

"You are under arrest for threatening behaviour and attempted assault on a police officer," Alec warned the sergeant while getting the handcuffs out of his pocket.

Rose got out of the other door and went around to join Alec, just about to slap the man's face for what he'd tried to do.

"Rose, you can do the honours," Alec smiled as the handcuffs snapped into place.

"With pleasure," Rose smiled back. "Can I slap his face first?"

Alec tried to look serious.

"Be careful," he told her. "We don't want a counter accusation, do we?"

"It would be worth it," Rose replied. "You have the right to remain silent," Rose began to tell the sergeant his rights.

Just as she finished, still annoyed she hadn't slapped him, cars began to drive into the garage and she saw officers looking towards them. As the cars stopped, several officers got out and walked towards the three of them.

"Sir, what's going on here?" one sergeant asked Alec.

"The traffic sergeant here was threatening DC Tyler and trying to gain access to her car to assault her," Alec put on a serious face, since he'd smiled all the way through the arrest Rose had made, a little on the rough side on Rose's part but he had let it slide.

"Yeah, I just arrested him," Rose was pleased with herself. "Can ya take him upstairs to book him for me?"

"We certainly can," the other sergeant smiled back. "He's been harassing some of the female officers but we had no proof, until now."

"Well book him and lock him up, I'll deal with him in the morning," Alec told the other sergeant, who had handed the traffic sergeant over to one of the others and was being led away.

"I'll just deny it, remember what I said," the traffic sergeant shouted behind him to Alec.

"Ya have to be joking," Rose shouted back, getting a warning glance from Alec.

"If you ask me, he should have been caught a long time ago," she was told by the remaining sergeant. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, honestly," Rose told him, looking at Alec, who had picked the baton up off the floor, having put on a plastic glove he had in his pocket.

Rose had often wondered how he got so much out of his pockets, were they bigger on the inside or something?

"What about your statements," the remaining sergeant asked Alec.

"We will give them in the morning," Alec replied. "DC Tyler has been through enough for now. I was delayed at joining her and the traffic sergeant took advantage of her being on her own and everyone else had left."

"Yeah, he took me by surprise while I was waiting," Rose agreed, not wanting to say Alec had phoned her with a warning to be careful.

She knew for certain now that Tess had delayed Alec on purpose.

"Right you are, I'll let the custody sergeant know to detain the offender until morning," the sergeant told Alec. "Should I arrange a car to take DC Tyler home Sir?'

"No, I will take her," Alec replied.

"Then I should remind you not to discuss what happened," the sergeant smiled as Rose went to get in the passenger side of their car.

"I know," Alec told him. "I will make sure she is alright before I leave her."

Alec got in the driver's side, putting the seatbelt on and indicating for Rose to do the same as she seemed in a trance.

"Okay, let's get you home eh?" he told her. "I am surprised your mother has not phoned to find out where you are," he then smiled, remembering how Jackie had been at the pub the other Sunday when Tess was stopping Rose from leaving the ladies room.

"Yeah, so am I," Rose smiled at the thought. "How did ya guess?"

"Seriously?" Alec raised his eyebrows as he drove off. "Having met her?"

Rose had to laugh. "Yeah. How could I forget that? Some introduction that was."

"Indeed," Alec agreed as he stopped at the top of the ramp and set the satnav for Rose's apartment.

He had to smile that she'd set it as 'Home'. Rose stayed quiet on the way back, slumped slightly in her seat but it wasn't really surprising, Alec thought as he half watched her. Then, she suddenly spoke up as the car turned into the road where she lived.

"I don't know what I'd have done if he'd managed to get in the car before ya got there."

"Well, I would have been there sooner," Alec replied, trying to find which driveway her block of apartments was in as the satnav told him his destination was on the left.

"Next one," Rose pointed to hers. "Sorry."

"I do not suppose you need further directions," Alec mused as he indicated to where Rose pointed.

"Mum will think ya keeping me working late," Rose smiled as he pulled into the parking space she indicated was hers.

"You tell her I keep you working late?" Alec teased her.

"I was just kidding," Rose smiled as she took the seatbelt off. "Thank Tess for me when ya get home will ya?'

"Rose, I cannot apologise enough for my delay," Alec turned towards her. "I will be having words with her when I get home, don't worry. Do you know she actually came out and accused us of having an affair?"

"Ya never mentioned it," Rose replied. "Something kinda stopped ya."

"Yes, I know. I should have done something about him before it got to that stage," Alec admitted.

"How were ya to know what he'd do?" Rose asked him.

"Rose, we know Tess has been talking to him," Alec reminded her. "I never expected it to go that far. As for her accusing me of having an affair with you, it proves we are right about her and Dave Harris. Why else would she try to shift the blame?"

"Yeah, she must be feeling guilty about it," Rose had to agree. "Did ya ask her about it?"

"When I did, she told me not to put the blame on her," Alec replied. "I should let you get home."

"Yeah. Thanks again for the rescue," Rose smiled.

She then leaned over and kissed his cheek, Alec taken slightly by surprise, considering the accusations going around between himself and Tess. He absent-mindedly put his hand on her arm and Rose put her chin on his shoulder.

"Sure you will be okay?" Alec then asked her.

"Yeah, sorry," Rose told him.

"It's fine, it was bound to have affected you. Try not to tell your mother too much until you give your statement in the morning," he reminded her.

"I'll think of something," Rose assured him, moving away. "Hey, good thing I don't wear lipstick at work," she joked as she brushed the shoulder of his jacket with her hand. "We don't want Tess finding any evidence to use against ya."

"Rose, it is not funny," Alec tried to be serious but seeing her point. "She had better not go looking for any though."

He saw a stray blonde hair floating around as Rose moved her hand from his shoulder.

"I'll make my own way to work in the morning," Rose then offered.

"Don't do that, I will call for you," Alec insisted as Rose opened the passenger door.

"Thanks and thanks for bringing me home Alec."

Rose stood away from the car as Alec backed it out of the parking space. He gave her a wave as he put the car in the forward gear and Rose waved back. Now to face her mother, Rose thought as Alec drove off.

Rose went up to her apartment, wondering what to tell her mother.

"That boss of yours keeping ya working overtime?" Jackie laughed as she greeted Rose. "Ya should have called me."

"Mum, he wasn't keeping me working," Rose tried to tell her. "Ya know that traffic sergeant I told ya about?"

"What about him?" Jackie wanted to know. "Did he ask ya out? Thought ya didn't like him?"

"I don't Mum and no, he didn't exactly try to ask me out. I can't talk much about it but he tried to get into the car while I was waiting for Alec," Rose had to admit.

"Ya what?" Jackie stopped what she was doing and went towards Rose.

"It's okay Mum, he didn't get in, I locked the doors. Alec was on his way down and got there in time to stop the creep gettin' in. Anyway, I can't tell ya any more about it until I give a statement in the morning but I'll tell ya something, I won't have any more trouble from him."

"Why was he tryin' to get into the car?" Jackie wondered.

"What do ya think Mum?" Rose looked at her as Jackie clasped her hands over her mouth as she realised.

Jackie rushed up to her and pulled her into one of her famous hugs.

"Ya mean if ya boss hadn't got there when he did, that man would have got ya to let him in?" Jackie asked her.

"Not without a fight Mum," Rose replied as she held onto her mother.

"Well I hope they throw the book at him then," her mother replied. "So why was your boss late then?"

"I told ya about Tess, how she's always saying things," Rose reminded her. "Well we think she'd been getting gossip from the traffic sergeant and he's always complaining to her that when he tried to talk to me, Alec's always with me."

"So she delayed him so that man could talk to ya?" Jackie started to get it.

"Exactly Mum and Alec's furious about it. He called me to warn me but it was too late, that creep was already at the side of the car. Luckily I pressed the door lock but left the window open a bit but he forced it open wider. I don't know what would've happened if Alec hadn't arrived when he did."

"Knowing you, ya would've done something about it," Jackie joked.

"Too right," Rose replied when she thought about it but she still owed her boss for rescuing her.

Then, Rose realised it would be all over the station when she got there in the morning, especially if Alec was driving since he was picking her up in the morning instead of the other way around. She would never hear the end of it from her friends teasing her.

When Tess had called for Daisy, she was already in a bad mood from Dave not meeting her and then Alec walking out on her as she complained to him.

"What's wrong Mum?" Daisy asked her when she looked up from her phone.

"Nothing," Tess replied. "You could put that phone away though."

Daisy just grinned and put the phone in her school bag. Tess was home before Alec so she was surprised when he pulled up in his work car as she looked out of the living room window.

"So, what are you doing driving that for?" Tess asked him when he entered the hallway and put the keys on the dresser.

"As if you don't know," Alec replied, going into the kitchen.

"I have no idea what you're talking about Alec," Tess told him.

"Really? You thought by keeping me talking, you'd leave Rose to face that man down in the garage?" Alec asked her.

"Alec, I don't know what you're implying," Tess insisted. "You were the one calling her and dashing out, after you denied the two of you were having an affair," she then reminded him. "Don't bother denying it Alec, why else would you have run after her?" she wanted to know.

"Maybe to stop her being attacked by that traffic sergeant?" Alec retaliated.

"What? I never saw anything when I went down there Alec. I assumed the two of you had gone off somewhere to be alone," Tess scoffed.

Alec glared at her.

"No, that would normally be you going off somewhere with Dave," Alec replied, trying hard to keep his temper.

Then, they both realised Daisy was standing in the kitchen doorway.

"Mum, Dad?" Daisy looked at them. "What are you both saying? You're both having affairs? I hate the both of you."

With that, the teenager ran upstairs and slammed her bedroom door.

"Now look what you've done Alec," Tess hissed at him.

"What I've done?" Alec asked her. "Your accusations against me have no grounds, mine against yours have. You've been seen coming through the fire exit at the back of the canteen almost every lunchtime."

"Oh, so you and your blonde DC haven't been seen talking in the car or by the lifts then?" Tess told him. "You've been seen with her looking very cosy. As for what you accuse me of, I bet it's those friend's of Tyler's spreading lies."

"Tess, everyone in the canteen has seen you following Dave Harris out as soon as you have both eaten," Alec reminded her.

"Well Tyler has been seen following you out," Tess told him. "I'm not the guilty one here, you are."

"I don't think so Tess, you are using me as an excuse, to cover for yourself. You are always late home, leaving Daisy and I have had to go get her. When have I ever been late home eh?" he wanted to know. "I am going to talk to Daisy, think about it. I have more evidence than you have."

Chapter 17

Alec went to knock on Daisy's door and let himself in to find her lying on the bed.

"Daisy, this was not how it looked," he tried to tell her.

"That's why mum was always late picking me up," the teenager replied, wiping her eyes.

Alec got a tissue out of the box on her bedside table and passed it to her, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I am sorry you had to hear that. Yes, I believe that is so, it would explain a lot," he admitted. "Given that several times she failed to show up."

"I think it was only once," Daisy told him. "Gran was getting a bit mad with her, especially when it was bingo night," she then managed to smile.

She sat up and leaned forward, resting her head on Alec's shoulder. It reminded him of earlier when Rose had done it but no, it hadn't meant anything then, had it? When was it he'd felt more protective of Rose, he wondered. He put his arms around Daisy, trying to forget about earlier.

There was more of a rift now between himself and Tess than there had ever been. It had been slowly getting worse but Tess's accusations had really made it worse.

"What will you do Dad?" Daisy wanted to know.

"Don't worry about it," Alec told her. "Don't let it get to you eh?"

"Easy for you to say Dad," Daisy tried to laugh. "Just tell me you're not getting divorced."

"Daisy, it has not got to that stage," Alec replied. "Although things are getting difficult between your mother and I."

"It started the other week, didn't it?" Daisy guessed. "When mum was in the ladies room with Rose."

"I guess that was the start of her getting worse," Alec admitted. "She had made her mind up about Rose when Rose first arrived here."

"But why Dad? What had Rose done to her?" Daisy wanted to know.

"That I cannot figure out," Alec had to admit. "I expect when Rose was made my DC, she felt like she would never get to work with me again? The chief had stopped her because she was always arguing about something and she put everyone else off working with me."

"So she was stopping everyone and Rose getting to work with you was what caused it all?" Daisy asked him.

"It seems so. It would have been the same with anyone, it just happened that Rose got the job, her being new," Alec told her.

"Poor Rose," Daisy replied. "She had no idea what she was walking into?"

"No, she didn't," Alec agreed. "None of it is her fault."

"I liked her, when I saw her and her mother's funny," Daisy smiled. "Did you see her face when she found out mum was holding Rose in the ladies room?"

"Yes, I would not like to get on her wrong side," Alec smiled back.

"Are you going to leave us Dad?" she then asked him.

"I hope it does not come to that but if things get a lot worse, there is a chance I will have to but try not to worry about that just yet."

As he left his daughter, he was already worrying about it. How much longer could he put up with Tess both at work and at home? That was down to Tess but maybe she already had it in her head that he was the guilty one as she tried to cover for herself and Dave.

Should he have it out with the other detective? The man had to be encouraging her, maybe he'd convinced Tess that Rose had encouraged himself and Tess should get back at him? He didn't feel like putting up with Tess and her complaints all night so he went to their bedroom and gathered what he needed for the night and for work and put them in the spare room.

Hopefully, Daisy wouldn't notice or he had some explaining to do, since he'd said he wasn't leaving. He went back downstairs and into the kitchen, since he was getting hungry. Tess didn't say anything to him as she was already at the kitchen table, Alec assuming she'd left his food in the oven or else he'd have to make his own.

He then sat at the table, Tess getting up with her empty plate.

"I hope you didn't tell Daisy anything," she suddenly told him.

"Only what I had to," Alec replied. "She is old enough to understand Tess."

"Oh, so that's okay?" Tess replied.

Alec just ignored her as he tried to eat the food that was now too hot. He didn't think Tess would really notice if he was in their bedroom or not, the mood she was now in. As usual, Tess went upstairs first so he took his time and hoped Daisy wouldn't catch him. The poor girl had grown up faster than she should have done recently.

The next morning, Daisy was talking away during breakfast, Tess was ignoring Alec and Alec was just nodding in agreement with what Daisy was trying to tell him.

"Dad, where's Rose this morning?" Daisy asked him as she was at the kitchen window. "Is she late?"

"I have the car," Alec replied before Tess could get a word in.

"Tell her why," Tess scoffed, looking pleased with herself all of a sudden.

"Dad?" Daisy turned to look at him.

"There was an incident as we were leaving last night so I drove Rose home," Alec tried to explain without going into a lot of details.

He was just waiting for Tess to say something.

"Is Rose okay though?" Daisy then wanted to know.

"I'm sure she's quite alright," Tess told her. "If you ask me, it was just an excuse to get your dad to take her home."

"Tess," Alec warned her.

"What does mum mean?" Daisy then asked Alec.

"Nothing, do you?" he looked at Tess.

"Well I still fail to understand why you need picking up for work anyway when you can come with us," Tess replied.

"I need to get going," Alec then told them both.

"Tell Rose I hope she's okay," Daisy called after him as he picked up his keys.

"Don't go encouraging her," Tess told Daisy.

"Why are you so mean to her?" Daisy then replied.

"Don't be so cheeky," Tess warned her.

"Well you were the one picking an argument with Rose the other Sunday," Daisy replied defiantly.

"Don't take her side," Tess further warned the girl. "What has your father been telling you? Get a move on or we'll be late."

Rose couldn't decide whether to wait downstairs for Alec or have further questions from her mother.

"You be careful today sweetheart," Jackie had told her as she got ready for work. "That'll be a new one, your boss coming to collect you," she had laughed.

"I'll be fine Mum, don't worry," Rose had assured her. "I'll have to give a statement, then it'll be up to the chief what he does about it."

"Well, he'd better get rid of that bloke," Jackie replied. "I mean if he lets him back to work, who knows what'll happen?"

"I think he'll be kicked out of that job," Rose hoped.

"I should think so. Will ya be able to say more when ya get home?" her mother then asked her.

"I might just wanna forget about it Mum," Rose replied, not wanting to give all the details.

She was more worried her mother would want to know everything than what her friends would say. She wasn't looking forward to explaining what had gone on, especially about what the sergeant had implied. She would have to ask Alec if she should include that in her statement.

The message tone sounded on her phone, the message saying Alec was downstairs. She hugged her mother goodbye and set off downstairs, Alec waving as she came through the door.

"This is odd," Rose smiled as she got in the car.

"Good morning," Alec replied as she put the seatbelt on. "Just don't get used to it eh?"

Rose looked in the mirror and saw he was smiling.

"Who'll be taking our statements?" Rose asked as they set off.

"Not your friends," Alec told her as he looked back at her through the mirror.

"Geez, what will they say? I mean if they hear about it before I get to work?" Rose wanted to know.

"Rose, it will have been going around the station all night," Alec replied. "A sergeant in the traffic division being held overnight," he reminded her.

"I can't face my friends, what will they think?" Rose asked him.

"If they are your friends, they will have every sympathy for you," he assured her.

"I hope so," Rose replied. "Hey I hope you didn't move the driver's seat?" she then joked.

Alec just raised his eyebrows as usual, Rose seeing him in the mirror. Alec saw her smiling at his reply.

How was it they got along so well, he wondered as they headed for the police station. Had Tess gone out of her way to argue with him all the time when Rose made a joke out of things that did go wrong? He had been determined not to get on with anyone if the chief decided he was in charge of who worked with who, not Tess dictating to him.

Yet after the first few days, he and Rose had already become a team and she was keen to learn his way of doing things, not contradict his orders as Tess had done. Rose had made more friends than enemies but stuck to the three women she had got close to and she never complained about working late.

She had also shown she was willing to work on her own on something but wasn't afraid to accept help. He had no doubts that it wouldn't be long before she passed her sergeant's exam and get a promotion. He just hoped Tess wouldn't spoil her chances but knowing what Tess was like, there were no guarantees.

When they arrived in the garage at the station, Alec noticed someone else was sitting in the sergeant's office, probably from the traffic division he thought as the officer acknowledge him. As they headed for the lift, Alec stopped for a moment and put his hand on Rose's shoulder.

"Ready for this?" he asked her.

"As I'll ever be," Rose managed to smile.

"Good, you have nothing to worry about. I will try to make sure someone from another division interviews you, not Dave Harris, obviously. He is in part responsible for what happened."

Rose nodded and pressed the lift button. Alec began wondering if it would have made any difference if he hadn't got held up last night that the sergeant wouldn't have had the chance to creep up on Rose suddenly. Tess was largely responsible, the woman stopping the lift just added to his delay. If only he hadn't told Rose to wait in the car for him or if her friend had stayed?

When they got out of the lift on the ground floor, Alec went straight to the desk sergeant.

"You know about the incident last night involving DC Tyler?" Alec asked the older man.

"Yes Sir. The chief wants DC Tyler to stay here until she's called," the sergeant replied. "The chief wants to see you himself."

Alec had half expected that.

"You make sure someone from another division interviews DC Tyler, understand?" Alec told the sergeant. "Under no circumstances allow her to be interviews by DS Hardy or DS Harris."

"Sir?" the sergeant looked puzzled. "What if they've been sent?"

"You call me and delay whoever is sent," Alec replied, looking at Rose who had gone to sit down at the side of the desk. "DC Tyler," he called over to Rose, who was wishing she'd got some strong coffee beforehand.

"Sir?" Rose looked up from staring at the floor.

"Do not go for an interview if it is to be conducted by DS Hardy or DS Harris, understand?"

"Yes, Sir," Rose replied, wondering why she needed reminding, as if she'd do it.

"Good. Sergeant, have a WPC take DC Tyler's statement," Alec turned back to the sergeant. "Where is the traffic sergeant anyway?" he then wanted to know.

He supposed he'd have to remember the man's name at some point. He'd seen the man's name badge often enough and had given him several warnings before Rose had arrived. It had seemed the sergeant hadn't heeded the warnings he'd been given, if he had done, Rose wouldn't have had any trouble.

He went off to face the chief, who would want to know why someone else had to be assigned to the garage at the start of the morning shift.

"Sit down Alec," the chief greeted Alec when he'd tapped on the door. "What the hell happened last night? Why wasn't Peters just sent home instead of him being locked up all night?"

"Because I expect DC Tyler would not have been protected from him, had he not been detained," Alec replied. "She was quite shaken by what happened."

"Well I only heard part of it so you'd better tell me the rest," the chief told him. "Why was DC Tyler alone in the garage anyway, where were you?"

"I was delayed by Tess, as usual," Alec replied. "Besides, Rose went off with her friends, one of them has a car. I expected them to be talking. According to Rose, the sergeant just crept up on her and tried to get into the car. She has had trouble with him harassing her before, as have several other female officers."

"Yes, I remember," the chief agreed. "I would have thought the man would have known better than to ignore the warnings. What was your involvement last night then?" the chief wanted to know.

"Tess decided to question my going out with Rose yesterday afternoon. Tess was putting pressure on her and her friends and I thought it best to get Rose out of the office, before she ruined her chances of promotion by losing her temper with Tess."

"What is with Tess then?" the chief asked him. "Why does she dislike DC Tyler so much?"

"Because you put a female officer working with me in her place," Alec reminded the chief.

"Really Alec, I would have thought Tess would have got over that by now," the chief laughed. "She's still that bad? Is it anything DC Tyler has done to make Tess worse?"

Alec thought for a moment. Had Rose done anything other than work with him?

"Rose is from a different station, she would not permit herself to be intimidated by Tess, who feels she is in charge of those who work in the office. I am afraid I let her but I had no idea what she was doing," Alec admitted.

"How could you have?" the chief replied. "I suppose I am as much to blame?"

"I'm the senior officer, I am responsible for those in the office," Alec replied. "The fact I let her just get on with it is no excuse. As a result, I let a female officer wait in the garage on her own when I knew the traffic sergeant had harassed her before."

Alec covered his face with his hands. He'd not shaved again that morning, his stubble was getting thicker and he thought maybe he'd let it grow into a beard. It seemed to annoy Tess anyway.

"Don't be so hard on yourself Alec," the chief told him. "From what I heard, it could have been any female officer on her own. Tell me what happened after she went off with her friends."

Alec began with Tess barging into his office after Rose went to catch up with her friends, trying as much as he could to miss out the part where Rose had agreed to try and catch Tess talking with the traffic sergeant but it was going to be difficult, if the said sergeant decided to try and get away with the incident lightly.

"So what made you call Rose and leave Tess in your office?" the chief wanted to know after Alec explained everything.

"She was not going to stop," Alec replied. "I called Rose to tell her I was on my way, trying to give Tess a hint I wanted her to go pick up Daisy. That was when Rose replied and I could hardly hear her but heard enough of her saying the sergeant was around then she told me the man was standing at the side of the car."

"So you left Tess to go see what was happening?" the chief asked him.

"When I finally got down to the garage, Rose was telling the sergeant to go away and she was not going to let him in the car," Alec continued. "Before I had finished talking to her on the phone, I warned her to lock the doors but she had not managed to close the window and the sergeant had forced it down."

Alec continued, missing out the sergeant making his threat.

"So he'd grabbed hold of Rose?" the chief was shocked to hear. "That sounds out of character Alec."

"Really?" Alec replied. "When I last told him to leave her alone, he was trying to ask her out."

"I see then?" the chief told him. "Well let's see what Rose says in her statement, then I will have another DI interview sergeant Peters and see what he has to say for himself. Let's hope he realises how serious his behaviour was towards a female officer."

Alec got up to leave but the chief hadn't finished.

"By the way Alec, when you said about Tess and there not being anything specific about her dislike for Rose. Is she jealous of any female officer or is it just Rose? If there's anything else you want to say, say it now."

Alec didn't want to say anything but if it was brought up in the interviews, then what? It would look bad for both Rose and himself and would make them look guilty of what Tess had accused them of. What exactly had Tess being telling the traffic sergeant though? The man clearly thought that whatever it was he'd been told was true or was it just he was jealous that himself and Rose were always seen talking when leaving the car?

Chapter 18

The chief looked straight at Alec, waiting for him to say something.

"Well?" the chief sat back in his chair and folded his arms.

"This goes no further," Alec replied, sitting down again, his hands on the desk.

The chief nodded his agreement.

"Tess thinks myself and Rose are having an affair," Alec got right to the point, to gauge the chief's reaction.

The chief seemed to take it well, Alec thought.

"Explain in more detail," the chief then replied. "On the basis of what? Is that why she's been acting the way she has?"

"It would seem so," Alec admitted. "She has been dropping hints, ever since we met up with Rose and her mother at a pub one Sunday. That did not end well, trust me," he smiled.

"I can only imagine," the chief agreed. "That explains some of it, carry on."

How much more did the man want, Alec wondered.

"Well, also because I decided to let Rose drive me to and from work, so she can get some use out of the car but mainly because Tess can be insufferable on the way to work and has to drop Daisy at school anyway," Alec continued.

"So, that's the only proof Tess needs then?" the chief asked him.

"Does she need more?" Alec replied. "Rose and I get on well, she is very keen to learn but also makes her own suggestions on things. She will soon be ready to take the sergeant's exam."

"I expect Tess will have something to say about that?" the chief joked. "So you want me to consider moving Tess to another team? She won't take it very well you know?"

"I know," Alec told him. "Why should Rose have to suffer because of her? She is partly responsible for what happened last night, her jealousy has gone too far. Rose could have either been hurt or worse if I had not arrived when I did."

"In what way is Tess responsible?" the chief wanted to know. Then he suddenly sat forward. "You mean she arranged something? With sergeant Peters? Whatever for?"

"To get back at Rose?" Alec replied, sitting back. "She kept me occupied in my office, so I would tell Rose to wait in the car. She has been getting information from Peters, who has seen Rose and I going out. He in turn saw it as a chance to get Rose on her own."

"Why though?" the chief asked him. "If Rose turned him down when he asked her out? Has he not had enough warnings from you?"

"It seems not," Alec replied. "It will be his last one, I want him suspended or out for misconduct."

"The latter is a bit drastic Alec," the chief smiled.

"After what he tried with Rose? Why does a female officer or any female not have the right to say no?" Alec wanted to know.

"I see your point," the chief had to admit. "Let's see what he has to say for himself, shall we? If he seems to regret his actions, then I can only suspend him, with a warning that if it happens again, he's out. Sorry Alec, then it will be up to a tribunal and if it happens to be Rose again, she would have to be there."

Alec thought if he had his way, he'd kick the man out, tribunal or not.

"I'll read both yours and Rose's reports Alec," the chief continued. "Try and keep Tess's part in it out or to a minimum."

Alec thought the chief had to be joking, Rose wouldn't want to even mention it. It would be bad enough with what the sergeant had said to the both of them.

"She will have to tell part of it," Alec admitted.

"Then advise her to keep it to a minimum," the chief advised him. "Don't stand for Tess taking either of your statements."

Alec didn't need reminding of that as he got up again to leave.

"Alec," the chief called to him as he was about to open the door. "Anything you both write down today will be confidential, unless of course it goes to a tribunal."

Rose had been taken into an interview room, a WPC giving her a statement sheet and she was trying hard not to put down certain parts of what had happened the night before, such as why she was even waiting in the car for Alec. She had wondered what was going on with her boss, knowing he'd have been called to see the chief first.

Upstairs, everyone was wondering where Rose and Alec had got to, Tess knowing they had set off for work but hadn't bothered seeing if the car was in the garage or not. She'd seen a different officer on duty as she driven in, wondering what had happened to the other one.

Had Alec been serious, she wondered. Had the sergeant done something last night? If he had, it would serve Tyler right, she thought. Then, she got worried she would become involved, if the sergeant said he'd been encouraged, in exchange for him telling what Tyler and Alec got up to down there.

Rose's friends had been getting worried more about her when she hadn't gone to her desk, plus their boss was absent.

"What do you think's happened to her?" Kate whispered to Trish.

"Didn't you say goodnight to her last night?" Jo asked.

"Yes, she said Hardy was doing something, a bit out of the ordinary," Kate replied, hoping Tess wasn't about to say something.

"Do you think she got corned by the traffic sergeant?" Trish suddenly realised. "We all know what he's been like."

"Oh no," Kate gasped, suddenly realising Trish could be right. "Now I am really worried."

"We don't know that," Jo reminded them. "They could have got a callout on the way here for all we know."

"Well I hope you're right," Trish told them as Tess looked across at them all.

Alec found out which room Rose was in and tapped on the door, making the WPC look around.

"How are you getting on?" he asked Rose.

"Okay I suppose? I mean I was a bit surprised at the time," she managed to smile. "I don't think I can say much more."

"Then if you have finished, sign your statement and wait for a senior officer but remember my warning earlier," he reminded her.

He watched as Rose signed her statement then as she left, he sat down to write his own. He wondered who would get the task of interviewing them both but as long as it wasn't Tess, he wasn't that bothered. Rose had been in trouble and as her boss, it was his duty to watch out for her.

Besides being his duty, he didn't fancy facing her mother questioning why he wasn't there for her. He could interview suspects all day long but Jackie Tyler was something else when it came to her daughter. Tess should have learned not to mess with the woman if she had any sense.

He had to be careful to omit certain parts of what had happened and hoped that the sergeant wouldn't bring them up but he doubted the man would have to admit where he got the idea from in the first place. If he had enough proof Tess had given him ideas, he'd involve her in the incident but getting her to admit anything would just make things worse, especially for Rose.

Rose waited for a while before another DI and his partner called her name, a file in the man's hand.

"Take a seat," Rose was told as she was led into an interview room.

She knew the formalities as the recording was started.

"So, you had a spot of bother last night I hear," the DI smiled at Rose. "DI Hardy had to rescue you?"

Rose wondered which way to take it, was the man being sarcastic?

"I would have got rid of that stupid sergeant," Rose insisted, sitting on her hands.

"Oh, I have no doubt," the DI agreed, grinning at his female partner.

"Just how did the sergeant force the window down then? It shouldn't have been that easy for him," the DI continued.

"Blame the car manufacturers," Rose replied. "The glass is so thin at the top on that model."

"Yes, I know," the female DS agreed with her, getting her a funny look from her boss.

Rose was glad she'd not got partnered with this DI but there again, he probably didn't have a jealous wife like Tess who worked with him.

"Why do you think the sergeant choose that particular occasion to confront you like that?" the DI asked her.

"Everyone else had gone?" Rose replied, trying not to sound sarcastic herself. "I can't think of another reason," she added.

"So he'd been waiting for the right moment?" she was then asked. "Why do you think that was?"

Rose had decided he was trying to be sarcastic but she wasn't going to let him get the better of her.

"DI Hardy had warned him before," Rose reminded him of what she'd put in her statement. "I was told the sergeant had annoyed the female officers before I'd even arrived here."

"So I've been told," the DI replied, looking in the file in front of him. "So, he'd asked you out just after you arrived? Did you give him an answer?"

Rose wondered what that had to do with her almost being attacked last night, if Alec hadn't got there when he had.

"I never got the chance, DI Hardy warned him off," Rose admitted, getting uncomfortable with his questioning. "Look, I never had anything more to do with him, I was never on my own when he was working. What's that got to do with last night?"

She felt like saying she felt she was to blame for it all, that he was acting more like he was defending the sergeant.

"Sir," his DS turned to him. "DC Tyler was almost attacked last night, we've all been approached by that sergeant since he got put in charge of traffic."

"Your point is?" her boss asked her. "Has he gone after anyone else like that?"

"No Sir but that doesn't mean he wouldn't have done, if DI Hardy hadn't stopped him last night," the DS replied. "Who knows who would have been next?"

"Yes, well thank you for that Lewis," the DI told her. "Who's to say it wasn't an isolated incident and DC Tyler here was the unlucky one?"

Rose felt like telling him thanks a lot for that.

"Excuse me," Rose spoke up. "Then why didn't he back off when he was told to?"

"She has a point Sir," the female officer agreed. "If he was having a bit of fun at DC Tyler's expense?"

The grin fell from the DI's face, Rose trying not to laugh. He went back to reading the rest of Rose's statement, then looked up again.

"Okay, DC Tyler, that's it for now, you can go back to work. We'll see what sergeant Peters has to say for himself," he told Rose.

"He's not gonna get away with this?" Rose asked him as she got up. "He's a menace."

The DI held his hands up.

"That's not down to me," he laughed as he got up. "If the chief considers that the sergeant is likely to do it again, then action will be taken."

He allowed Rose to go first, leaving his partner to turn off the equipment. Rose made her way back to reception and went to the lift. It was getting on for lunchtime and she wondered if it was worth it. Where was her boss anyway? As she waited for the lift, the DS who had been in the interview room caught up with her.

"Hi, it's Rose, right?" the DS asked her. "I'm Fiona, DS Lewis. Look, I'm sorry for what happened to you last night, really I am, it could have been any one of us. Once everyone's gone, that garage is creepy. Why were you even down there on your own?"

The lift arrived but Rose waited.

"I was waiting for DI Hardy," Rose replied. "I usually wait in the office for him but he was held up, by DS Hardy so he told me to go wait for him. I caught up with my friends and went downstairs with one of them. I said all that in my statement," Rose looked confused.

"I never got chance to read it all, sorry," the other woman smiled. "We're all behind you, we can't risk that sergeant Peters does it to someone else, who might not be so lucky and be rescued."

"Thanks. Everyone in the office will be wondering where I am," Rose smiled back.

"You might be just as well go for lunch early," Fiona told her. "If you want to talk, just look for me."

"Yeah, I will but I have some explaining to do with my friends," Rose replied.

"They'll have heard by now, it's all over the station," she was told. "You've got DS Hardy in charge of your office, right?"

"Yeah, worse luck," Rose grinned, thinking she wouldn't be any earlier going for lunch now. "She's never liked me since I got here."

"Not many people do like her, apart from her friends, then maybe they're scared what she'll say about them if they leave her alone," Fiona smiled. "Don't let me keep you Rose, your friends will be worried about you. It was nice to meet you and DI Hardy's a good man to work with. Tess stopped anyone who even applied to work with him."

"Yeah, I know," Rose replied as she pressed the button for the lift again. "When's DI Hardy's interview?"

"After lunch," Fiona told her as the lift arrived. "You can't discuss your interview with him before that," she then warned Rose.

Rose nodded and got into the lift, thinking she may as well just go get a table for herself and her friends, that was if they were still talking to her, if they'd already heard what had taken place the night before.

Her three friends had indeed heard when Kate got a text from someone she knew in booking. So when the morning break came around, she passed her phone to Jo then Trish.

"No way!" Trish almost shouted out loud but stopped herself just in time and covered her mouth instead. "Didn't you go into the garage with her last night?"

"Of course I did and there was no-one around. Do you think I'd have left her on her own if that creepy sergeant had been lurking around?" Kate asked her.

"Sorry," Trish patted her friend's arm. "We all know what that man's like though," she reminded them.

"Yes but Rose never said she'd had any more trouble with him," Jo reminded them.

"Well, she wouldn't would she?" Kate replied. "Hardy's always with her now. Do you think that's why he started?"

"Well maybe?" Trish wondered. "No-one else bothers though."

"That's true," Kate agreed. "Rose is fairly new though, maybe the sergeant wasn't getting the message?"

"Well he didn't get it if he went after poor Rose last night," Jo also agreed. "Wonder what's taking her so long though, if she had to give her statement?"

"As long as it takes?" Trish grinned. "Thank goodness Tess isn't doing it."

"I doubt Hardy would let her," Kate smiled at the thought of Tess grilling Rose and trying to put the blame solely on her.

"These things can take ages, we all know that," Jo reminded them.

They went back to work, trying not to watch the door to see if Rose returned. Tess was also now worried that she'd been found out, that Alec would have worked out she'd been talking to Peters. So what if she had though, she thought. It wasn't like she'd told the stupid man to try to attack Tyler, that was entirely down to him.

Still, that was no reason for Alec running off like he had done last night, when she'd been talking to him. Why had he suddenly called Tyler? He was paying far too much attention to his DC and less to herself. He might deny it but there was something going on between the two of them.

Then she had a sudden horrible thought. What if Peters had seen herself and Dave in that corner of the parking garage? Would the sergeant try and blackmail her into getting him out of any charges that were brought towards him?

Knowing Alec, if he got his own way, he'd throw the book at the man. She had noticed when she'd left the night before that Peters wasn't in his office so had he really been trying to catch Tyler on her own? From what she'd heard, Tyler wasn't hurt or anything and Alec had locked the sergeant up anyway and kept him overnight.

She bet anything her husband had driven Rose home but stopped somewhere on the way, to console her.

In the holding cells, sergeant Peters was pacing the small cell after being offered some breakfast but he'd been too furious to eat properly and only touched the toast and coffee. He'd not been happy at the officer who had opened the hatch to collect the plate an hour later.

"What's going on out there?" Peters had wanted to know.

"They don't tell me much," the young officer had replied.

"You do know Hardy's holding me here to get his revenge?" Peters had told him. "Just because I was trying to get friendly with his blonde DC?"

"You'll have to wait until you're called," the officer had told him.

As the young man was about to close the hatch, Peters called out him.

"Those charges are false, you ask around about Hardy," he tried to convince the officer.

Just wait until he was asked why he'd gone after the young blonde, he thought to himself, a smile creeping across his face. When he next saw Hardy, he was sure the DI would be interested in what he'd seen at midday in a corner of the garage no-one went in, well except for Hardy's wife and DS Dave Harris.

Chapter 19

Rose was waiting for her friends to arrive and they all were anxious to see if Rose would be saving a table for them. Jo ran over to her as soon as they spotted their friend, putting her arms around her shoulders.

"There you are! Are you okay?" Rose was asked as Jo sat next to her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Did ya wonder where I'd got to?" Rose laughed, pushing her plate back.

She hadn't realised how hungry she was, not having much breakfast with being nervous.

"Of course we did," Kate told her. "What's going on Rose? We heard rumours going around."

"Let's get some lunch first," Trish suggested.

They all went off just as Tess wandered in, looking around for Dave but he wasn't there.

"Typical," Tess thought, seeing Rose on her own. "Just when I needed to talk to him as well."

Her other ally, the traffic sergeant had been arrested so where was she going to get the low-down of what Alec and Tyler were getting up to on their own in the garage now? What had the stupid idiot done to get himself locked up, she had wondered when she'd found out from one of her friends.

Alec had been vague to say the least, though he'd had plenty to say the night before, blaming her for everything but she had thought the chief would have freed the sergeant pending an enquiry. The man was still in custody though so she had to be careful she didn't get implicated any further.

Alec followed Tess, seeing her wave to her circle of friends then join the queue at the counter then he saw Rose and went over to her, grabbing a chair since her friends were still getting served.

"How did it go?" he asked as Rose finished the rest of her meal, which was going cold.

"I can't talk about it," Rose replied, trying not to smile.

"I know, you don't have to tell me everything," he joked.

"Okay I suppose? How come your interview's this afternoon?" Rose wondered.

"The chief will want to read your statement first," Alec explained. "Tess was looking concerned to say the least when I saw her coming here."

"She should be," Rose did smile this time. "I hope she does get pulled into it. Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, she knew what she was doing," Alec replied seeing one of her friends looking over. "I will see you later, your friends are heading this way."

He got up as Jo approached the table, getting out of the way.

"So, come on Rose," Jo nudged her as she put her tray down.

"I can't, not until later," Rose tried to tell her friend. "Something happened last night, down in the garage."

"We heard some rumours Rose," Kate admitted. "You mean after I left you waiting for Hardy?"

Rose nodded. "Ya could say that," she admitted.

"Geez Rose, I wish I'd waited with you now," Kate covered her mouth. "Seriously?"

The other two were looking at them.

"Why were you waiting for him on your own Rose?" Trish wanted to know, Jo nudging her.

"It's okay," Rose told them. "Tess went into his office as I was leaving so I left them to it."

What else could she say? She didn't want to make it all complicated and have to explain to her boss she was covering up the real reason why she had gone without him.

"Well, she would," Jo then laughed. "Doesn't she see enough of him at home?"

"I feel sorry for him, having to put up with her at home and at work," Kate agreed.

"Yeah, poor bloke," Trish joined in. "Does he complain to you about her when you pick him up or take him home Rose?"

Rose just smiled, if only they knew, she thought.

"Worse than that," Rose grinned. "She glares at me when he's getting in the car every morning."

The others laughed, just as Tess was sitting down at the table her friends were at.

"See, they're laughing about me again," she insisted.

"Oh come on Tess," one of them told her. "Maybe you're just imagining it?"

"Don't believe me then," Tess huffed. "Tyler and Alec have been missing all morning, as if you didn't know."

"We heard something was going on," another told her. "The traffic sergeant was missing this morning, someone else was on duty. What does that have to do with your husband?"

"Keep up," a third woman told her. "That sergeant's been locked up since last night, all due to Tess's husband."

It was only a matter of time before her friends found out what had happened Tess supposed.

"What exactly have you heard?" Tess then wanted to know, seeing Dave wander in and was looking for her.

He'd just have to wait, Tess thought, office gossip was much more important and she was getting tired of Dave rushing her to get 'It' over with in the corner of the garage. She felt a lump in her throat as she suddenly had a horrible feeling that the sergeant may use seeing her and Dave in exchange for getting away with going after Tyler.

"What's wrong Tess?" one of them asked her. "Do you know something we don't?"

"What?" Tess replied, hoping her mouth hadn't been open as she came back down to earth.

Alec had got a sandwich and a coffee and was making his way back to his office when Dave Harris got out of the lift.

"Alec," Dave nodded to him. "How's things? Heard about your DC last night, she's okay?"

"She's fine," Alec replied as he got in the lift, holding the door button.

"Good, heard that Peters got locked up, so he should," Dave told him.

Alec pushed the button for his floor before he got asked anything else. Harris was not the kind of person you had a casual conversation with, well unless you were called Tess.

As Rose's friends were about to leave, Jo suggested she went with them.

"No thanks," Rose laughed waving her hand like she was clearing cigarette smoke away. "I'll just pop up to the office until I get called again, the chief'll wanna interview me."

She went off in the opposite direction, her friends watching her.

"Thought Rose would have more to say," Trish told them. "Didn't you see anything last night Kate?"

"I already told you, there was nothing," Kate insisted. "No point in telling Rose we already know most of it."

"She'll fill the gaps in," Jo replied as they went outside. "Won't be outside long today since it's bloomin' raining as Rose would say," she laughed, the other two joining in.

Tess had waited as she saw Dave go off to another table where his mates were. She didn't fancy hearing what they would be talking about, it would no doubt be about what had happened last night. Why did everyone have to go making something out of it, she thought to herself.

Rose got back to the office, seeing Alec sat at his desk. He waved her over so she went to join him.

"Am I allowed?" Rose smiled as she sat down.

"I am in the same position as you," he replied. "At least you have got most of it over with. Don't worry, the chief is on your side, there was no excuse for what Peters did."

"So did Tess deny she had something to do with it?" Rose asked him.

"Yes, what else?" Alec told her. "She was blaming everyone but herself."

"Well, that's it now I suppose?" Rose complained. "I might as well give up and go back home with my mum."

She slumped forward on Alec's desk, her head on her folded arms.

"No, you stay and fight this Rose," Alec insisted. "Don't let Tess get the better of you."

"She always will though," Rose replied, looking up at him.

"Rose, you will soon be ready to take the sergeant's exam, trust me," he reminded her. "Then she can no longer tell you what to do."

"That's not the problem," Rose looked up at him again. "Whether I pass the exam or not, she'll still be the same."

"Come on Rose, don't give up so easily eh?" he encouraged her.

He would have got up and patted her shoulder but if Tess walked in, since he'd just seen Harris, Tess would be more careful after last night and he would just make things worse.

"Well okay, I suppose?" Rose told him.

"Good, I expect you to pass as well," he replied with satisfaction.

He did expect her to pass first time but would Tess try and spoil her chances? His phone rang and as expected, he was being summoned to be interviewed. Thankfully when he arrived, it wasn't Harris.

"You are still holding Peters?" Alec wanted to know as he sat at the table.

"It's a sorry state of affairs," the other DI replied. "One of our own turning on a young female officer. Whatever happened to make someone like him do a thing like that?"

Alec wanted to say the answer was Tess but didn't think it was wise to mention she may have encouraged the sergeant in question.

"That is what I intend to find out," Alec replied.

"Not until after you give your account of what happened and we've taken the sergeant's statement," Alec was told.

"No doubt the man will try and put the blame onto DC Tyler," Alec replied. "I was delayed after she went off to the garage, although she was with a friend but then she was left alone while she waited for me."

"I see then?" the other DI looked up from the file on the table. "DC Tyler has had a problem with the sergeant before?"

"When she first arrived," Alec recalled. "I had to give him a warning but it was not just her, he had warnings to leave other female officers alone as well."

"Sir, it has been confirmed that some of the female officers are cautious of the sergeant," Fiona Lewis told him. "I did some checking."

"Good, then Peters didn't just single out DC Tyler then?" the DI told her.

"Are you implying that DC Tyler encouraged the sergeant?" Alec wanted to know, leaning forward and putting his hands on the table.

"He never tried anything with the other female officers so why did he chose to with her?" Alec was asked.

"Look Greenwood," Alec sat back again. "There was no need for him to get so aggressive with her. She had told him to go away and she had called me and warned him I was on my way down. He forced the car window down to try and get to her and when I arrived, he was holding onto her."

"I did interview DC Tyler," Greenwood reminded him. "Tell me what was said between you and Peters."

Alec didn't know exactly what Rose had missed out concerning Tess so he would have to be careful.

"I had to be careful not to provoke him even more," Alec replied, folding his arms.

He knew Rose always grinned at him when he did that, she seemed to find it amusing.

"Did he take any notice?" Greenwood wanted to know.

"Not at first. I warned him that officers would be coming back in but it did not seem to get through to him," Alec admitted. "DC Tyler did nothing to provoke him, she remained as calm as she could under the circumstances."

"You mean after you went to her rescue?" the other DI replied smugly.

"She managed to call me before he tried getting in the car," Alec reminded him. "The chief has already been briefed about what happened."

Alec saw the disappointed look on his counterpart's face.

"Why didn't you let him go?" Greenwood then asked Alec.

"Are you serious man?" Alec replied, leaning forward again. "And let him intimidate DC Tyler when she came to work this morning? Anything could have happened, he could have delayed her by pretending to apologise and maybe even warned her to stay quiet."

"Come on Hardy, seriously?" Greenwood replied.

"DI Hardy's right Sir," Fiona spoke up. "He could have made up an excuse for her to stay behind."

"Thank you for that Lewis," Greenwood told her with a hint of sarcasm.

Fiona wished he wouldn't do that. She had considered asking to be put with another DI but only Alec had been without a partner since Tess had been banned but Tess had put everyone off, not just female officers.

"Is that all?" Alec then wanted to know after he recalled his part in the event, minus a few things like Peters insinuating he was keeping Rose all to himself.

He signed his statement and once out of the interview room, sent Rose a message.

Rose's phone buzzed and she glanced at the message from her boss that just read 'Meet me in the staff canteen'.

She supposed he didn't want Tess barging into his office the moment he got back and she couldn't really blame him.

"Where are you going?" Tess asked her as Rose put her work bag on her shoulder.

"Why?" Rose replied. "No-one ever says they're going to the ladies room do they?"

"Watch yourself, DC Tyler," Tess warned her as everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at her.

In the eyes of everyone in the office, Rose was the rebellious one. They thought she didn't care and that working with Alec excused her from answering to Tess.

"I just got a text from DI Hardy," Rose admitted. "We probably have to go out."

Hoping that satisfied Tess for the time being, Rose glanced at her friends, Trish waving to her.

"Wonder where Rose is really going?" Jo whispered to Kate. "Geez, I wish I had her nerve to talk back to Tess."

"We should all maybe try it?" Kate replied. "She can't get all of us fired. Besides, we might hear about a promotion, then Tess will have to find someone else to pick on."

"Yeah, pity anyone who takes our places," Trish agreed.

As Rose entered the canteen, Alec waved her over having already got them both some coffee.

"Was it that bad?" Rose smiled as she sat down. "I take it ya didn't want Tess asking ya a million questions then?"

"How did you guess?" Alec pulled a face at the thought of an angry Tess waiting for him going back. "Still she will only get me at home I expect?"

"Poor you," Rose grinned as she drank the coffee he'd got for her.

How had he remembered how she took it, she thought to herself.

"Just waiting for Peters to be interviewed, then the chief will want to see both of us," Alec told her. "Let us see what the man has to say but don't let him intimidate you."

"Too right I won't, not after last night," Rose agreed.

"Good and if he does not get at least suspended, I will not be happy," Alec replied. "Has Tess said anything to you?"

"Not really but she asked me where I was going when you'd sent me that text," Rose admitted. "I told her we probably had to go out."

"If you continually lie to her, she will get even more suspicious," Alec warned her, trying to sound serious.

Rose saw the look on his face and started laughing.

"Yeah, sure she will and ask me if I'm bothered," she replied.

"Seriously Rose, don't provoke her," Alec advised her.

"Sorry but ya see what I'm up against," Rose told him. "Are we gonna wait here for the chief to call us?"

"You would rather wait in my office and have Tess staring at us?" Alec raised his eyebrows at her.

"Good point," Rose admitted, leaning back on the chair. "Can I ask ya something?"

"Sure, just change the subject eh?" Alec replied.

"Do ya think I really have a good chance of putting in for the sergeant's exam?"

"I would not suggest you did otherwise," Alec told her. "I meant what I said Rose, you are keen to learn."

"Thanks, that means a lot," Rose admitted. "My mum can't decide if she wants to stay or not but she might do, if I get a promotion."

Alec was about to reply when he got a call on his mobile.

"We will be right there," Alec told the caller, beckoning Rose to get up as he did.

"The chief wants us now?" Rose asked as she grabbed her things. "Geez, it's like being called to the principle's office."

Alec let it slide as they both hurried to the chief's office, wondering how things were going to go. Would the chief really believe Rose had done nothing to encourage the traffic sergeant or had Peters already put all the blame entirely on her?

Peters had been taken from the holding cells to the interview room, where the smug look on his face had dropped when he saw who was going to interview him.

"Sit down Peters," DI Greenwood had told him.

"Why was I held all last night and this morning?" Peters had asked.

"You know why," Greenwood told him, looking at Rose's and Alec's statements. "What the hell were you thinking, going after Hardy's DC?"

"Why should she be any different from the rest of them?" Peters replied, eyeing Fiona, who was trying to ignore him.

"You should have heeded what Hardy told you and backed off," Greenwood told him. "Did you seriously think Hardy would go off and leave her with you, when you had her pinned down in the car? You deserve everything thrown at you."

"What happened to hearing my side of the story?" Peters had wanted to know.

"Really?" Greenwood laughed at the sergeant. "Tyler wasn't the first one you went after, was she? All the female officers go to great lengths to avoid you, what made you try with her?"

Peters had laughed at the remark.

"Why should I have let Hardy keep her to himself?" he told Greenwood. "Am I the only one thinks that's exactly what he's doing?"

"Come on Peters, that's a fairly big accusation," Greenwood replied. "You'd have to be a fool believing that."

"Am I? Just ask his wife, she thinks that's exactly what he's doing," Peters replied defiantly.

"You had better have some proof of that, before you drag Hardy's wife into it," Greenwood warned him. "That was no excuse for holding DC Tyler against her will, which is why Hardy had you locked up," he reminded the sergeant.

"What about the fact he was the one who came to rescue her? She was calling him when I stood at the side of the car," Peters replied.

"Anyone would call their boss if they thought they were being threatened," Fiona told him, making Peters' face drop.

Greenwood let it go as he looked at Rose's statement.

"She has a point," Greenwood agreed, making Fiona look at him in disbelief.

"Well she's not the one carrying on with Hardy behind his wife's back," Peters replied as he nodded towards Fiona and trying to put the blame entirely on Rose to get out of it.

"You have proof?" Greenwood wanted to know.

Peters now thought he had a pretty good chance of getting out of this.

"I'll tell that to the chief," Peters replied smugly, looking at Fiona again.

Greenwood got up and gathered the folders on the table.

"Write it all down," he told the sergeant. "You'll be taken back to the cells while the chief decides what to do."

"He'll take what I've just told you into consideration?" Peters asked him.

Greenwood didn't reply, thinking the sergeant had little or no chance of the chief believing the man over Alec Hardy but it would be interesting to know exactly what the sergeant knew about the other DI and DC Tyler.

Chapter 20

Rose left the safety of Alec's office as she heard everyone coming back after lunch and went to her desk. Tess was the last to return, which surprised Rose as she thought Tess would have been back first to have a go at herself and her boss.

Tess had been held back by Dave on her way out.

"Not so fast Tess," Dave had told her as he hurried to catch up with her. "Ignoring me today?"

"You were late," Tess used the excuse. "Besides, I needed to know what's been going on, why Peters had been locked up by Alec all night."

Dave had laughed, raising his hand to lean on the wall just where Tess was now standing.

"Come on Tess," Dave laughed. "He must have caught Alec with his little blonde DC."

"Shut up Dave," Tess didn't need reminding. "Can't you ask some of your mates what happened?" she then wanted to know.

"I suppose I can try?" Dave mused, a big grin on his face that made Tess frown at him.

She thought he was enjoying this a bit too much.

"See, I was right all along," Dave had then told her. "They must have got caught and Peters was trying to get DC Tyler for himself."

"Well the idiot got himself locked up, didn't he?" Tess reminded him. "A bit stupid of him if he didn't back off if Alec threatened him. Now I can't find out anything else about what Alec and Tyler get up to."

"Never mind Tess, did you really want any more proof?" Dave had laughed.

"Alec can deny it all he wants," Tess huffed, trying to dodge Dave's arm.

"I can tell him about us if you want?" Dave tried to look serious.

Tess would have slapped his face there and then but someone came out of the canteen. Dave just did a mock salute and gestured for Tess to go in front of him, Tess now even more riled at being reminded she'd been right all along about her husband.

Should she go straight to Alec's office and have it out with him or wait until they got home? Leaving it would only give Alec more time to come up with more excuses but in the office would attract everyone's attention. Just as she got back to the office, she saw Rose leaving Alec's office but Alec himself wasn't there.

Rose had just gone back to her desk when she got the message to join Alec. Tess was even more annoyed the way Rose had spoken to her and thought to herself that she wished Tyler wasn't Alec's DC and had to take orders from herself.

Should she start on Tyler's friends, she then wondered.

Rose and Alec were called to the chiefs office, Alec remaining standing then leaning against the wall. He thought Rose found that amusing as well, did she think all his habits were amusing? Well if she did, it was more than Tess had done, all she had done was either told him not to slouch, straighten his tie, fasten his top shirt button or tidy himself up.

The chief looked up from the statements he'd been reading.

"Rose, you did everything you could to discourage Sergeant Peters," the chief told her. "Do you want to press charges against him?"

Rose looked up at Alec.

"What'll happen if I do? Will there be an inquiry?" Rose wanted to know.

"He'll be brought before professional standards," the chief replied. "Since he harassed you and clearly wasn't going to let you go even when warned, he'll be disciplined anyway and at the very least be suspended and not allowed on traffic duty again."

"I should think so," Alec replied, standing up straight.

Did Rose smile to herself when he did that as well, he wondered. Why did it matter to him all of a sudden?

"I should take some of the responsibility for Rose being down there on her own," Alec then added. "Tess was keeping me talking, I told Rose to go ahead."

Rose didn't remember it quite like that but he was only trying to avoid making things worse.

"I was with a friend," Rose reminded him.

"If Tess had not delayed me, the sergeant would not have gone seeking you out," Alec replied.

"Don't blame yourself Alec," the chief told him. "Peters should not have been trying to force himself on Rose in the first place. What made him do so all of a sudden is strange though."

"Well I never encouraged him," Rose insisted.

"No-one's saying you did," the chief reminded her. "Maybe it was just all the warnings he'd been given?"

"I had to take the complaints against him seriously," Alec told the chief.

"Of course you did," the chief agreed. "I'll see what he has to say for himself but I strongly suggest you make a formal complaint Rose, not only for your own sake but for the others he's harassed."

"I'll see she does," Alec replied as Rose got up.

He gestured for her to go first and as he did so, the chief stopped him.

"Anything else you want to tell me Alec?" the chief asked as he raised his eyebrows. "For example if Tess has anything to do with this?"

To the chief, Tess was the root cause of most things in the station. She had succeeded in keeping anyone from working with her husband, until Rose Tyler had come along. Then it seemed to him that was when all the problems started.

From what he'd seen and heard about Rose, she was a force to be reckoned with. Not even Tess had put her off and she was doing a good job.

Alec thought he could easily drag Tess into this, things couldn't get any worse between them. Then he'd be sleeping in the spare room permanently.

"She may have," Alec admitted.

"In what way?' the chief asked, being used to the two of them.

He thought he'd solved the problem by letting Rose work with Alec but it had brought out the worst in Tess. Whatever had triggered Tess's hostility was clearly more deeply rooted than Rose's arrival. It seemed to him that Tess just wanted someone to blame and Rose had been it.

"You really want to know?" Alec wondered if the chief was being serious. "You know what Tess was like before Rose arrived, Tess is just annoyed she did not get someone else in the office to control."

"Then maybe it's my fault for taking Rose on and putting her with you?" the chief wondered.

"She would have just done it with anyone else," Alec reminded him.

"True," the chief agreed. "At least Tess hasn't come complaining to me every chance she gets," he then smiled.

"No, she takes it out on me," Alec half joked.

"Sorry Alec," the chief sympathised. "So, back to my question, was Tess somehow involved in what happened last night?'

Alec knew the chief was being serious. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to tell him some of it, to cover both himself and Rose?

"I think that Tess has been trying to get Peters to spy on myself and Rose when we go out and come back. You do know she thinks something is going on between myself and Rose," he then raised his eyebrows.

The chief let out a laugh and closed the folders on his desk.

"Why doesn't that surprise me Alec?" the chief replied. "I don't want to know about it, I take anything Tess does as getting back at you."

"Are you interviewing Peters?" Alec changed the subject.

"Shortly. It's best if you leave it to me Alec," the chief replied. "I take it that in exchange for so-called spying on you, the sergeant wanted something in return?"

"Yes, a chance to hold me back and leave Rose down there on her own," Alec told him.

"So you think last night, Tess was holding you up on purpose?" the chief wanted to be certain. "What had he given her in return, I wonder?"

"Anything she wanted to hear," Alec replied. "He was clearly making something up to get her co-operation."

"I gathered that," the chief smiled. "It will be interesting to know what made them decide to do something about it last night."

"It bothers me that Peters was so easily taken in by Tess," Alec admitted. "What did she really promise him or was it the other way around? Was Tess so determined to find me cheating on her?"

"Maybe?" the chief wondered. "Unless she's covering something up?"

"You don't know how close a guess that is," Alec agreed. "Rose and her friends are convinced Tess is acting strangely with Dave Harris."

"Seriously?" the chief laughed again. "More like Dave Harris is leading her on. You know his reputation for being the station's Romeo?"

"Don't I just?" Alec replied. "I'll let you get on with interviewing Peters then."

"Yes, get it over with," the chief agreed. "It's a sorry day when an officer attacks another. Thankfully it rarely happens."

He picked up his desk phone and instructed the duty officer to bring Peters to his office. Alec went off to find Rose but when she wasn't in the canteen, he sent her a message.

'I'm at my desk' Rose replied, wanting to add where do ya think I am? 'Tess is watching me'.

He just sent the reply 'Don't tell her I am on my way back'.

It was just about break time so she got up to make some coffee, passing by her friends' desks.

"Hey Rose," Jo called out to her, closing the open window on her screen.

They caught Tess's eye, making her scowl. She thought it a pity she couldn't say anything, since a few others started doing the same.

"You okay?" Jo asked her, putting her arm in Rose's.

"Yeah, suppose so?" Rose told her friend. "Wish it would all be over with, I might have to make a formal complaint."

"You do that Rose, don't let him get away with it," Kate told her as she caught up.

"I'm not gonna but I'll leave it up to the chief, he's on my side," Rose replied, getting a paper cup and putting it under the coffee dispenser.

She pressed the button for latte and waited, then went to one of the desks her friends used.

"Come on Rose, how did it go with your interview?" Trish wanted to know as she joined Rose.

"Okay but I didn't like the way the DI was enjoying himself too much."

Trish just laughed as the others joined them.

Tess was dying to know what the four of them were talking about but she bet most of it was about her. She saw Alec was still missing but even if he came back, he'd just shout at her if she said anything. She knew he'd be even more annoyed and he'd probably told the chief he thought she was involved. Why did that stupid sergeant have to go after Tyler?

Was he trying to impress her, since she'd complained to him about Alec and his DC? Well she'd not told him to go about attacking the blonde, had she? That was entirely his own fault for getting caught. Unless of course, Tyler had set herself as a target to get Alec to go and rescue her? Why was she doubting, of course she had, to get sympathy from Alec and then the whole station, plus throwing off any idea they were sneaking around.

"Wow, that's awful Rose," Jo was telling her as she quickly told them more of what had happened. "I always said that sergeant was creepy."

"Yeah, I heard of a few women he tried to hassle," Trish agreed. "Glad I don't have a car! Sorry Kate."

"I'm usually the only one down there," Kate replied. "Rose, I'm really sorry I left you on your own."

"Forget it Kate, it wasn't your fault," Rose assured her.

It was just then when Alec sent her a text. She excused herself and went back to her desk, asking Alec where he was. When he said he had been looking for her, he called her back.

"Are ya gonna see what the sergeant has to say for himself?" Rose wanted to know.

"He's just being escorted to the chief's office," Alec replied as he heard footsteps down the corridor. "What do you bet he tries to get himself out of it?"

"He can try," Rose replied quietly. "I'm not gonna let him off the hook, that's for sure. Tess is looking over at me, she was the last one back from lunch today."

"Was she now?" Alec was interested. "I saw Dave Harris as I was leaving the canteen. He must have kept Tess back. Then come downstairs and wait here to see the chief," he suggested.

Alec already knew he was right. Why had he not known for certain that Tess was messing around with Harris? That was why she was being so aggressive and insisting it was he who was having an affair with Rose. Maybe he should play her at her own game, really get Rose to act like it was true? Just inside the station and when Rose picked him up and dropped him at home.

He'd have to let Daisy in on it, get her to agree not to tell her mother. Rose had made her way downstairs, finding Alec sitting and waiting for her.

"Is the sergeant with the chief?" Rose wanted to know as she sat beside Alec.

Alec just nodded, not knowing what to say. He'd thought more of what action to take regarding Tess, Rose may go with it to a certain point but he couldn't get her too involved. There was her mother to consider to start with, then her friends here at the station. To be honest, it was her mother he was more worried about after seeing Jackie Tyler go for Tess.

Rose leaned forward, her hands under her.

"I hope he's gettin' a roasting from the chief in there," she grinned.

"Let us hope so," Alec agreed. "Did Tess have anything to say?"

"Not much," Rose told him. "Geez, why is this takin' so long?"

"These things do take time," Alec reminded her. "The chief has to hear all sides."

"It's like being in court," Rose joked. "Waiting for the jury to return their verdict."

"Indeed," Alec nodded his agreement. "Let us hope this does not come to that."

"Geez, I hope not either, my mum will go spare. She'd be in the front row," Rose replied.

"No doubt," Alec could only imagine. "Tess may side with Peters though."

"She would?" Rose realised. "Geez, I hope this gets settled here then."

The chief's door opened just down the corridor and the two officers waiting outside took custody of Peters again. Inside, the chief had said Peters could be released on police bail on the condition he stayed away from the station and in particular, Rose herself.

"So I can go?" Peters had asked, not getting chance to plead his case as he'd planned by blackmailing the DI into dropping the charges brought against him.

The chief had stopped him before anything could be said.

"Bear in mind that if you approach DC Tyler, you'll be locked up again, understand?" the chief wanted to make sure. "The female officers should be able to feel safe inside the station and that includes the parking garage. This is not the first complaint against you."

"Hardy took it too seriously," Peters insisted. "I was only being friendly."

"Maybe at first but your current actions resulted in a senior officer being disobeyed. DI Hardy had every right to detain you. You'll be suspended until all things have been considered, including if DC Tyler wants to bring charges against you."

That had knocked the smug look from the sergeant's face. As the other officers led Peters towards where Rose and Alec were sitting, Alec stared at the man and Rose tried to look away. Alec was daring the man to say something but Peters just went past silently.

Alec got up and gestured for Rose to go in front of him, wondering what the chief had decided.

"Have you suspended Peters?" Alec wanted to know.

"Yes and if I decide to let him back, trust me, he won't be placed in the parking garage again. He'll be lucky to ever get back there. Rose, do you want to bring separate charges against him?"

"Should I?" she then wondered. "I mean it wasn't just me who complained about him."

"Yes, you should," Alec told her. "Not only for yourself."

"He's right," the chief agreed. "Let me know the names of the female officers who complained about him Alec, then leave it with me."

As Rose and Alec left the chief's office, he told Rose she had done the right thing.

"I hope so," Rose told Alec as they walked back to the lift area. "Any chance of not going back to work?" she grinned at him pressing the lift button several times. "It won't arrive any faster ya know?"

Alec wished she didn't have an answer to everything.

"Wait down here if you wish, I will go finish off in my office, he suggested. "Don't go waiting in the garage on your own in future."

Just thinking about it made Rose shiver. Alec noticed as the lift arrived and touched her shoulder. Rose went to sit and wait for him, getting her phone out.

"Hey Mum, are ya home?" Rose asked when Jackie said hello.

"Yeah, been shopping, there are some good shops around here ya know? Are ya still at work or out somewhere?"

"Still at the station but I'll be home a bit earlier today," Rose told her. "Been all day writing reports and stuff and seeing the chief. Had my interview this morning, had to get a smart-ass DI on the case but his DS was nice, she was on my side."

"Well I hope it goes okay sweetheart," her mother told her. "See ya soon then? Why don't ya invite ya boss up for a cuppa?"

"Well, I don't know Mum?" Rose was somewhat surprised as her mother didn't usually like any of her male colleagues, well at her last station anyway.

"I was only being polite," Jackie reminded her. "He's your boss and he stuck up for ya, that says something about him."

"I'll ask him but he'll probably say no," Rose told her. "See ya soon then?"

Alec had gone back to his office, finally, knowing everyone would wonder where Rose was. It didn't take long for Tess to get up and join him as he closed his computer down and she appeared in front of him.

"So, where's Tyler?" Tess wanted to know. "What's happened about Peters?"

"Seriously?" Alec asked her. "He should have thought about his actions, before going after Rose."

"Oh come on Alec," Tess replied. "Don't tell me she's completely innocent."

"What is it with you Tess?" Alec wanted to know. "You encouraged him."

"In what way?" Tess replied. "I did no such thing Alec."

"You were getting information from him, did you tell him you would delay me so Rose was down there on her own eh?" Alec challenged her.

"How can you even think such a thing?" Tess pretended to be hurt.

"It does not take much working out," Alec replied. "Was Peters blackmailing you? Did he see you and Dave Harris down there?"

"What?" Tess looked at him, all the office watching what was going on when Rose didn't return.

Kate was whispering to her friends.

"Geez, I bet that's about Rose," she was telling them.

"Yeah, poor Rose again," Trish agreed. "Don't get me wrong but if she's not careful, that time she said she was going to lead Tess on about something going on between her at the boss will spread like wildfire. Then what will happen?"

Chapter21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Spend the holidays with me

2022-12-15T04:50:00.009-08:00

Rose Tyler has been popular since taking over some of her mother's charities so when she's invited to a Christmas event in Broadchurch she is happy to attend. Alec Hardy gets roped into looking after her for the evening and is taken with her, then Rose invites him to spend Christmas with her and when he says they have no plans and has fallen for her, his daughter is delighted.

Chapter 1

It was always the same for Rose at the beginning of December. Every year, invitations to Christmas events from church fairs to charity dinners arrived by letter and email and she can never choose. Her mother had started most of these but it was getting too much for Jackie to handle on her own but they still had to turn a lot down.

"I wish I'd never agreed to anything now," Rose was complaining to her secretary Sally.

Sally just laughed as Rose said that every year.

"Well, they'll be wanting answers soon," she reminded Rose.

"Well start preparing the 'sorry I can't make it but here's a donation and good luck' response," Rose grinned over her desk.

"Larry in accounts at Vitex is going to be overjoyed again," Sally replied dryly.

"I've not got a time machine to attend every single one of them," Rose joked, wishing she still had access to one.

"You always seem sad this time of year," Sally told her. "You still think about him, don't you?"

With Sally having top clearance at Torchwood, having given up her job at UNIT after an incident, she was one of the few people at the top of the organisation who knew about Rose and The Doctor and how she came to be there.

"Yeah, it's strange how it still affects me. I mean we spent that one Christmas back on our old estate and…." Rose recalled sadly. "Never mind, I can't do anything about I now, can I?"

Torchwood had a team working on getting the devices that had been used to follow the Cybermen working but they had given up on Pete's orders. Rose was getting more disappointed as time went on and Pete couldn't bear to watch her every time there was the slightest progress.

"I'll start the responses then?" Sally asked her. "Want me to pick out a few you might be interested in?"

"Yeah but non where I have to take a date," Rose laughed.

"Still mad at Mickey for showing you up last year?" Sally smiled.

"What do ya think?" Rose laughed back. "I keep telling him to stop showing off but he takes no notice."

"Maybe if you go to a dinner dance you might meet a tall, handsome stranger?" Sally teased her.

"Chance would be a fine thing," Rose replied, giving up hope of either meeting the actor she really liked or the detective who resembled The Doctor but had a beard who had been in the news a few times.

"You never know," Sally told her. "This could be the year. I'll send you the good ones when I've gone through them all. You want to miss out all those too near to the holidays?"

"Yeah, I have to take Tony shopping for presents and to see Santa," Rose grinned.

"Is he writing his list of what he wants already?" Sally smiled at the thought.

"Yeah, mum says he'll be lucky if he gets everything," Rose laughed.

Sally went off to sort them all out and to warn the Vitex accountant. She wondered why Rose chose to do it through the company but supposed it looked better than coming from Torchwood as many people remembered the old regime under Yvonne Hartman.

Rose got home and told her mother she was prepared to attend a few events but not as many as in the past.

"Are ya sending a donation instead again?" her mother asked her as Tony was playing with his toy Zeppelins.

"Yeah, Sally's organising it but I did tell her before I left that if any last minute ones come in to let me know. There might be something interesting," Rose told Jackie.

"There's always some who leave it late," Jackie laughed. "What about last year when ya had to drag Mickey with ya?"

"Mum, don't remind me," Rose replied, going red. "He was so embarrassing."

They both laughed as they finished opening the cards that had arrived that morning.

"Rose, when can we put the trees up?" Tony then wanted to know.

"A few days, okay?" Rose told him.

"You will take me to the mall, won't you?" he asked her.

"You bet," Rose smiled, ruffling his hair.

Jackie thought Rose had better keep her promise to her young brother.

Down in Broadchurch a few weeks before, Ellie Miller was on the phone to Beth Latimer, since it was quiet in the police station and she knew Hardy was taking no notice of her.

"Beth, if you want to organise something, you'd better do it now," Ellie reminded her friend.

It was like the two of them had never fallen out when Beth had accused her of knowing what Joe had done.

"I want to do something different Ell," Beth was telling her. "What if we can get a special guest to a dance? Nothing formal or anything, just music and a bar. Where to have it though? How much should we charge for tickets?"

"Hold on Beth, when you say 'we'?" Ellie asked her.

"I can't do it on my own Ellie," Beth replied.

Ellie thought where she had heard that line before, when her boss had roped her into keeping tabs on Claire.

"Well give me details later when you find somewhere. How about that big house down at Axhampton? They hire it out for events. You might get it cheap if you say what it's for."

Beth said it was a good idea and went off think about it. Ellie went to knock on Alec Hardy's office door and let herself in.

"Nothing to do Miller?" Alec asked her, putting a folder down. "I hope that wasn't a personal call?"

"What's with you today?" Ellie grinned at him. "It was Beth, she wants to do something for Danny, she misses him even more at this time of year."

Hardy took his specs off and put them on the folder.

"I know how she feels Miller. I used to miss Daisy every Christmas, it was never the same without her."

"Well, she'll be here this year so cheer up," he was reminded. "What are you two doing for the holidays anyway? Not going to be a Grinch are you?" she teased him.

"Very funny Miller. It will probably be just the two of us but we can still enjoy it," he replied.

"You're just out of practice," Ellie laughed. "I'd invite you over but with my dad being here this year," Ellie replied. "He's a bit of a handful and easily upsets people."

Alec had previous experience with his DS's father.

"Heard from your sister?" Alec then asked her. "She disappeared fast."

"Yeah, with Olly away, she didn't want to stay, especially after Maggie went out on her own and she'd no job. I might get a card from her, if she remembers," Ellie told him. "So if Beth organises something, she expects me to help."

"Then do it in your own time," Alec told her.

Ellie wasn't sure if he was joking or not.

"You'll support it won't you?" she then asked him.

He wanted to say she had to be joking but put his specs back on and picked up the folder, meaning it was time for her to leave. Just let her try, he thought as she left. Daisy might want to go with Chloe but he doubted he needed to be there, wherever it was.

Beth was pleased she'd got the big country house for the event and all the proceeds after costs were going to the sea scouts. The owner of the house said he wasn't going to rent it out anymore but after hearing what it was wanted for, gave in and said she could have it for free but she was responsible if anything was damaged.

"I've contacted her secretary," Beth had told Ellie one lunchtime at the café on the beach. "She said in the email that she'd speak to her when I said what it was for. I can't see her turning it down."

"She'll be popular this time of year," Ellie had warned Beth. "You've not given her much notice either."

"I emailed as soon as I got a date," Beth replied, sipping her coffee. "I'll have to give the go ahead on the ticket printing soon or I'll have to get them to put 'special guest' instead of Rose Tyler."

So Beth went ahead with getting posters printed and tickets were going fast after she'd contacted Rose's secretary. Ellie had asked her how she was going to get the famous Rose Tyler to attend.

Ellie knew her friend would be disappointed if the Vitex heiress had to turn it down due to other commitments. So as she had got back to the office and looked up Rose's public telephone number she gave out, Sally answered the phone, wondering who could be on the rarely used line.

"Miss Tyler's secretary, how can I help?" Sally tried not to sound so surprised.

She knew most people used the other line so it had to be someone trying to contact Rose herself.

"Oh, hi," Ellie found her voice. I'm Ellie, well DS Ellie Miller, from Broadchurch police. Is it okay if I talk to Miss Tyler?" Ellie asked hopefully.

"Can you give some idea of what it's about?" Sally wanted to know before Rose got annoyed anyone was getting put through to her.

"Well yeah, my friend and I are organising a dance for charity and wondered if Miss Tyler would be able to be a guest? Beth Latimer already emailed you."

"She is pretty busy this time of year," Sally explained, trying to recall the email but there had been so many and she may not have got around to replying yet.

"Well I expected that," Ellie tried to hide her disappointment. "Could you ask her for me?"

Ellie was put on hold, looking over to her boss, who was trying not to take any notice of her. She thought back to the accusations about them during her husband's trial and that if the barrister had seen herself and Hardy together, she would have known it would not be remotely possible there was any affair going on.

Sally pressed the button for Rose's phone and was greeted with Rose saying 'Watcha'.

It always made Sally smile that old habits died hard with her boss.

"Rose, someone called on that other phone number, wanting to speak to you about attending an event," Sally told her.

"No-one ever calls about an event, do they?" Rose replied.

"Well not normally, I expect people find it easier to email these days?" Sally agreed.

"Well go on then," Rose laughed.

"It was a police officer, down in Dorset. She and a friend are organising a dance for charity. Do you want me to say you can't attend? I mean you said nothing too near Christmas," Rose was reminded.

"Did they leave any more details?" Rose wanted to know. "When you say Dorset?"

"Oh, sorry. It's a place called Broadchurch, is that where that boy was killed recently?" Sally replied.

Rose knew her secretary knew full well it was but didn't like to remind her.

"You weren't gonna say where, were you?" Rose tried to sound serious.

"Sorry. It was just with you saying you wanted to be at home. The person's on hold, do you want me to put her through then?"

Rose tried to think why Sally was being hesitant and thought maybe it was Alec Hardy himself calling but she supposed not, why would he?

"Yeah, put her through then," Rose agreed. "Hi, who's that?" Rose asked when Ellie found her voice.

"Oh, it's Ellie Miller. I told your secretary," Ellie replied. "Sorry to bother you, I know you must be busy?"

"It's quiet at present," Rose admitted. "So go on, what's this charity event then? I don't get many calls about them, usually all emails, the few odd letters, those are the posh ones with formal invitations," Rose added with a laugh.

"Oh, it's nothing that formal," Ellie assured her. "It's just a dance my friend, Beth Latimer wants to hold, she gets a bit down this time of year, she misses her son," Ellie assumed Rose knew who she was talking about. "It also cheers the town up I expect? It's on the 21st, is there any chance you can attend? You must have a lot to go to?"

Rose thought she could tell she was talking to a detective, given all the questions.

"Well, I don't usually accept any invites that close to Christmas," Rose admitted.

"Oh, don't blame you," Ellie agreed. "It was with her leaving it late to get somewhere to hold it and getting it organised. She wants to get the posters and tickets printed and she was waiting for an email back. I thought I'd call, just on the off chance you'd decided?"

Rose hated being put on the spot. Why had Sally not mentioned the email? Sometimes her secretary shielded her a bit too well of anything that could remind her of The Doctor.

"So, she's doing it for her son Danny?" Rose wanted to make sure. "Okay, send all the details and I'll tell Sally to look out for it. Where's the best place to stay for a couple of nights?"

"Oh, The Traders is the best place but the venue's out of town. I can call for you and take you there if you like?" Ellie offered.

"Yeah, as long as I don't put ya out?" Rose agreed. "Is that other detective still there, I just wondered?"

Ellie wanted to say she thought she'd got rid of Hardy after the trial but no, he had to come back, didn't he?

"He's still here, is that a problem?" Ellie asked instead.

"No, it's fine. You can tell your friend I'll be there," Rose agreed.

Ellie thanked Rose for agreeing to attend and was feeling pleased with herself when she called Beth.

"You did what?" Beth quizzed her. "You have a nerve Ellie," she then laughed.

"Well you said you were waiting for an email back," Ellie reminded her. "She probably doesn't get to see them, her secretary deals with them. Rose said she'd not heard anything about it. You can get things done now."

Rose went out to see Sally.

"There'll be an email coming through with details of that event in Broadchurch," Rose told her. "I'm happy to go there, I should be back in plenty of time to spend time with Tony."

"Your mother will go mad if you aren't," Sally smiled.

"Tell me about it," Rose grinned back.

Ellie had just sent the email to Rose with all the details when Hardy came out of his office.

"Going somewhere?" Ellie glanced up at him.

"To get something to eat," she was told.

"Not making any toast then?" Ellie teased him.

"What, when you pinch a slice?" he raised his eyebrows at her, putting his jacket on. "Then you have the nerve to judge my tea making skills," he added for good measure.

"I don't call pouring cold tea into a mug and putting it in the microwave as being a skill," Ellie replied, the rest of the office sitting still and watching the two of them. "Then, well?"

"Tell us what he did Ellie," the new officer laughed.

"Get back to work you lot," Alec warned them. "Miller, don't say another word," he turned back to Ellie.

They were all watching him as he went out then started laughing.

"He didn't really put cold tea in the microwave?" Frank wanted to know.

Ellie ignored him and went back to work. As Alec went downstairs, being lazy and taking the lift, he wondered what she was up to. She had better not try to get him to attend what she and Beth Latimer were planning.

Chapter 2

Little did Alec know just how involved he was going to get, whether he liked it or not.

Beth was pleased nearly all the tickets had sold, she had given a pair to Chloe and Daisy, who were as thick as thieves these days, with Chloe taking the exams she missed out on when her younger sister had come along. Now, there was less than a week to go and everyone was looking forward to the dance.

With Rose being confirmed as the guest of honour, Ellie and Beth were planning the finishing touches to the event. They were pooling Christmas decorations to go up and had been told they could go the day before and decorate the house and someone would meet them there.

"Have you got someone to cover the door?" Ellie wanted to make sure when she'd gone to Beth's house after work.

"Yeah, Nige and his mate volunteered, can you believe it?" Beth laughed. "Hope they don't get too enthusiastic though. Imagine if he doesn't recognise Rose Tyler?"

They both laughed at the thought, then Ellie was worried if anyone was going to try and gate-crash.

"Don't say that Ell," Beth went serious. "Who do you think would do that?"

Ellie could think of a few, including Hardy if he wanted to keep an eye on his daughter and tried to show his badge to get in. She knew he was being a grump by saying there was no way he was going to attend but he may just change his tune at the last minute.

Rose had got the hotel booked, she planned on getting to Broadchurch in the afternoon, have a rest then get ready to be picked up by Ellie. She wouldn't have minded getting a cab to the event but didn't want to offend the detective.

Now, Rose was looking forward to attending something genuinely intended to cheer up a small town instead of the dinner she'd attended a few nights earlier with her mother and Pete. It had been stuffy, full of endless speeches and the choice of music had been questionable.

She had heard from Ellie where the event in Broadchurch was taking place and tickets had sold out, which she was pleased about but hoped it wasn't just because her name was linked to it. She'd had to smile at the thought they'd hired a big country house for the venue.

Saturday morning, the 21st, Rose had an early breakfast, Tony getting up early to see her off.

"You will be back for Christmas, won't you?" Tony asked her again.

"I said I would be Tony," Rose assured him, glad they had got the mall out of the way by rearranging it.

She gave him a hug before she left, her mother telling her to be careful on the way down. The traffic was a bit heavy getting across London but once she got going, she made a stop about half way and finally reached her destination. Now, she wished she'd gone by train.

"Welcome to The Traders," Becca greeted her. "Hope you enjoy your stay."

"Thanks. Can I keep the room a bit longer in the morning? I promised I'd get something for my little brother while I'm here," Rose asked.

"Sure, if you don't mind paying for an extra day?" Becca told her. "You can stay as long as you want then."

"Yeah, good idea. I might have a look around tomorrow then take my time going back on Monday. Are you going to the charity dance tonight?" Rose asked Becca.

Becca put her hands up.

"No, not me, I've no-one to go with anyway. I split up with someone recently, I don't want people talking about me, it's only just stopped. That's small towns for you. I'll be gone soon anyway, I just realised I'm homesick," Becca admitted.

Becca had been unsure about her relationship with Paul Coates after he admitted he'd been visiting Joe Miller while the man had been in prison. She had said she'd forgiven him but it had never been the same between them after that.

Rose went up to her room to freshen up and looked out of the window at the view of the sea. She wondered if she had time to go down to the beach for a while, just to get some idea of what the harbour was like. Becca told her the quickest way to get down but said it would be getting dark soon and it wasn't a good idea to walk back the same way.

"I'll just have to go by road then," Rose laughed. "Guess I'll have to get back in the car?"

Daisy Hardy and Chloe Latimer were in Daisy's room, trying outfits on and doing their hair and Alec could hear them laughing. He'd just got back from the supermarket, without Daisy's help and thought he could have managed it on his own before.

He had offered to take the two girls but Chloe said she'd booked a taxi to the venue from her house, planning to go home first and Daisy had said she'd go with her. Alec thought well at least he'd offered and no doubt Daisy would get a ride back with Beth.

Should he have said he'd go to the dance? Miller had given up asking him. Daisy and Chloe left around five and Alec sat on the sofa after putting the TV on the news channel. Ellie had told him fine, if he didn't want to go out, he could handle any emergencies. He wasn't going to be in for a quiet evening though as just after five, he was annoyed when his phone rang and it was Ellie.

"What?" he greeted her.

"Charming," Ellie replied. "Look, I'm having trouble with Fred and I've got to pick up our guest for the dance," she told him, not wanting to mention Rose's name in front of her father.

She'd already had an argument with him over the dance and she didn't want another.

"Can't your dad sort him out?" Alec replied, praying this wasn't going where he thought it was going.

"I'm trying to calm Fred down but he's just hyper at present," Ellie replied. "I'm not hopeful, he won't eat his tea and he's saying no to everything. Look, Beth has to be at the venue early to organise things, so she can't collect our guest, I was rather hoping you could do it, if I've not sorted Fred out by seven?"

"You are asking a lot Miller," Alec replied. "Can't whoever it is get a cab?"

"Geez Hardy, I'm not asking you to pick up royalty," Ellie tried to keep her temper. "It's only," she stopped to look to see if her dad was paying any attention before saying who it was. "Rose Tyler. She should be just your type, all mysterious."

He knew very well who the guest was, Chloe and Daisy had talked about the woman non-stop since Beth had told Chloe.

"You had to go pick her," Alec complained. "Where is she staying?"

"Does that mean you'll pick her up then?" Ellie sounded surprised. "She's at The Traders. I said I'll pick her up at seven. I'll call her and say it will be you collecting her."

"I still say she could have either driven there or get a cab," Alec replied dryly.

"Don't be such a misery Hardy, what else do you have to do later?" Ellie wanted to know.

Alec supposed she was right but wasn't going to admit it to his DS.

Rose had parked on the sea front and was sat with a hot drink, being surprised a little kiosk was open nearby. She thought what a lovely peaceful place it seemed after all that had gone on in the town recently. She and Jackie had been very concerned about what had happened to poor Danny and that had been the main reason Rose had accepted Beth's invitation.

She had talked Tony into going to see Santa early so she wasn't in that much of a rush to get back, an extra day wouldn't do any harm and would give her a day to herself. Things would be hectic once she got home, her mother would be giving last minute instructions to the staff and 'supervising' the making of the Christmas cake, much to the cook's annoyance.

Tony had picked the icing decorations for the cake when they'd been shopping and this year was being allowed to place them on the icing. She'd laughed at the thought of how it would turn out. She got up and decided to walk around the harbour, there was still enough time before it got dark, passing over the river and seeing a blue chalet then coming to the pier, the lights just coming on.

She was about to turn back when her mobile rang. It was Ellie.

"Rose?" Ellie asked cautiously. "It's Ellie Miller."

"Oh hi. Is it about tonight? It's not been cancelled has it?" Rose was worried.

"Oh no. It's just I can't pick you up, my youngest is playing up," Ellie replied. "I don't think I'll get to you on time."

"Oh, don't worry, I can get there on my own," Rose offered.

"Someone else can pick you up, my colleague, Alec Hardy. You might have heard of him?" Ellie told her, being certain someone like Rose would have kept up with the news.

"Yeah, I've heard of him. I don't want to put him to any trouble Ellie," Rose replied.

"Oh, it's no bother, he volunteered when I told him I wouldn't be in time to pick you up," Ellie smiled at the thought Hardy would volunteer for anything but would make an exception for a young blonde.

"Well okay then, same time?" Rose asked.

That agreed, she made her way back to her car and to the hotel to get ready. Since Daisy and Chloe had gone off to Chloe's house, leaving Alec on his own, he was getting bored of the TV so he went on the internet on his phone to look up Rose. If they were to talk on the way to the venue, he had to know what he was up against.

Daisy had told him not to worry and she'd get a ride back and maybe stay at Chloe's anyway and if he changed his mind, she'd see him at the dance. Would Rose expect him to escort her inside, he wondered. It would be rude of him to just drop her at the door he supposed. Then he thought Miller would find some excuse for not taking their guest back to the hotel so he'd end up staying.

Rose got herself ready and went to wait downstairs, watching through the window for a car stopping.

"Not driving there?" Becca asked a nervous Rose.

"No, I'm getting picked up. It was supposed to be Ellie Miller but she got held up so now it's Alec Hardy," Rose replied, still watching for him.

"Lucky you," Becca laughed. "You are honoured then, he's not the sociable type if you ask me."

"Why, is he a bit of a hermit?" Rose laughed back. "Oh. A car just stopped, I wonder if it's him?"

Rose didn't know why she was nervous, she wouldn't see much of him once inside the venue. Should she insist he stayed with her? He would keep all the local men away from asking her for a date, not that she was staying but they might try something and she'd be safe enough with a police officer.

She turned when the door opened, Alec having thought he'd best collect Rose in person rather than beeping the car horn and expecting her to just come out and get in the car. It wasn't that cold really but it would be later on, it even got cold at night during the summer sometimes, he recalled as he opened the hotel door, looking around for Rose.

He saw Becca behind the desk as usual, bringing back memories of when he was ill and had stayed there himself.

"Becca. I'm here to collect Rose Tyler," he told her, not seeing Rose behind him.

Becca nodded towards Rose, a smile on her face.

"That would be me," Rose grinned, giving a little wave. "You must be Alec then?"

Alec thought who else did she think it was? This was going to be a long night.

"We should get going," Alec told her, not sure what time he was supposed to get her there for.

"Fine, is it far?" Rose wondered.

"A fair way, a small village further down the coast," Alec replied, having looked it up after he'd finished reading about Rose.

He'd already known most of her story, who didn't? Daisy had been excited at meeting the Vitex heiress and was glad she hadn't known he'd got roped into driving Rose there but he would be able to hide from his daughter if he were to stay a while.

Little did he know what Rose was planning once at the dance as he opened the car door for her then got in himself.

Chapter 3

Ellie had finally settled her youngest, giving her father strict instructions not to give in to Fred and give him anything else to eat but read him a story.

"I know what to do," her dad insisted. "What about Tom? How late can he stay up?"

"Dad, he's old enough to decide when," Ellie reminded him as she looked in the hall mirror. "If he's still up at eleven though, tell him."

"I don't know why you have to go to this event Ellie," he then complained.

"How often do I go out Dad?" Ellie asked him. "Except when I have to do so for work."

"Well I hope you're not working over the holidays," he further complained.

Ellie shook her head and picked up her keys.

"I won't be too late," she told him before he could say any more.

As she got into the car, she wondered how Hardy was getting on with Rose. It should be interesting to say the least.

Beth was telling Nigel to make sure he let Rose into the house and that Ellie would be with her.

"I know who she is," Nigel insisted. "Maybe I can get away later and have a dance with her," he grinned as he bragged to his mate.

"You and me both," his mate laughed.

"Don't go leaving the door unattended," Beth warned them, thinking they had no chance with someone like Rose. "Let me know when she arrives."

"I'm first then," Nigel's mate laughed.

Beth shook her head as she went off to the bar area and told the staff to make sure Rose was looked after and not to charge her for any drinks. The manager wasn't too pleased, since he had to give half the profits for the night to Beth's charity.

Alec was hoping his phone was giving him the right directions to the big house at Axhampton, it would be embarrassing if he got them lost but he saw the sign of the turn-off and drove down the narrow road, seeing lights in the distance.

"Wow, Beth was lucky to hire this place then?" Rose pointed out as Alec tried to find a space to park.

He had thought maybe most people would get a taxi to the event as only one was dropping two women off. He bet his passenger had offered to get one but Miller was determined to rope him in somehow and he'd let her. He went to let Rose out of the car and she took his arm as they went to the main entrance, Alec seeing who was standing there.

"Carter, I'm escorting Miss Tyler inside," Alec told him before he was asked for his ticket.

"You got a ticket then?" Nigel grinned at him.

Rose was still holding onto Alec's arm.

"He doesn't need one, he's with me," she insisted. "Ya know who I am?"

"Did Beth not leave word?" Alec wanted to know, since it was cold standing in the doorway.

"Well yeah but only for her," Nigel nodded towards Rose. "I had to let Beth know when she arrived."

"Well do so Carter and stop messing around," Alec insisted. "Don't keep us waiting out here, there are other people waiting to get in," he now noticed.

"What's the hold-up?" a woman's voice behind wanted to know.

"Probably some VIP," the older woman who had got out of the cab laughed in reply.

"Mum, it's her, Rose Tyler," the younger woman told her, nudging her arm.

"Of course it had to be," the original woman replied. "Babe, you look fab," she then greeted the woman from the cab.

Rose was taking it all in while Alec argued with Nigel Carter, who insisted on calling Beth.

"Has she arrived?" Beth wanted to know when she answered her phone.

"Well yeah but Hardy's with her. Thought you said it would be Ellie?" Nigel replied.

"There must have been a change of plan then? Well have you let them in?" Beth asked him, making her way to the door.

"Hardy's not got a ticket," Nigel complained.

Beth let out a laugh.

"He's the police Nige, he doesn't need one," she told him. "Well let them in, before he complains to me."

Nigel moved to one side to let Rose and Alec in, prompting the two complaining women to utter a "Finally" as they moved to the door.

"Did you have to make such a fuss?" the husband of the third woman wanted to know, to which he got a smack on the arm.

Once inside, Alec helped Rose off with her coat and Beth caught up with them, having spotted Alec.

"Inspector, what happened to Ellie bringing Rose?" Beth wanted to know.

"Trouble with her youngest," Alec told her, looking for somewhere to put Rose's coat.

"Well never mind, you're here. Welcome Miss Tyler," Beth greeted Rose.

"Thanks for inviting me and call me Rose. Wow, this place is bigger than where I live."

"I was lucky to get the place," Beth admitted. "You can put your coat behind the bar if you want?" she offered, seeing Alec holding it over his arm and smiling to herself that Ellie had succeeded in getting her grumpy boss to attend.

She bet anything Fred was just an excuse to get the detective to pick up Rose from her hotel.

"Has your Chloe arrived with Daisy yet?" Alec asked Beth as they approached the bar.

"I've not seen them yet, I left early," Beth replied. "Order whatever you want Rose, the least we can do is provide you your drinks for coming tonight," she smiled at Rose.

"Thanks. Don't think I'll be drinking a lot though. I'll just wander around then when people arrive? I hope they all don't try buying me drinks," Rose then laughed. "You'll have to stop them Alec," she patted his arm.

"Well, I did not intend staying, I was just escorting you inside," Alec insisted.

Beth could see where this was going and made her excuses to leave.

"Aw, I thought ya were staying?" Rose sounded disappointed. "Who am I gonna dance with? Ya not gonna leave me to fend for myself, are ya?"

She used to be good at getting The Doctor to do as she wanted, Alec was no different. He looked a lot like The Doctor but she had never seen him with a beard. She had to forget about it, she was only here until Monday.

What could Alec say? It would seem rude to just leave her here on her own and what else did he have to do? Sit at home being bored as usual? Just then, he heard Daisy call him.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" she asked as Chloe just grinned.

"I had to collect Rose," he admitted. "Have you two just got here?"

"You're not going to keep an eye on me all night?" Daisy looked horrified.

"I'll make sure he doesn't," Rose laughed. "I was just sayin' I need someone to dance with."

"Ah, well," Alec was trying to make excuses up for not dancing.

"Sure, he'll be fine, won't you Dad," Daisy teased him. "Come on Chloe, let's get a table."

Alec went off to get Rose a drink, saying who it was for and got one with no alcohol for himself. Rose wanted to go in the room where the music was but tables were filling up fast until Alec spotted one at the back and Rose followed him.

"Look, I said it was her Mum," Leah was telling her mother.

"She's right Trish," their friend agreed. "Isn't she with that detective?"

"I wonder how come he brought her?" Trish wondered, downing her second drink and looking at her friend's husband to buy her another.

Trish just hoped her friend Cath wouldn't find out the two of them had slept together the other Saturday morning when she'd asked Jim to look at the boiler instead of paying a plumber. It seemed Jim hadn't wanted any money for fixing the thing and they'd ended up in bed while her daughter was off with friends for the weekend. Neither of them had talked about it since, it had just been a fling after Jim admitted his wife wasn't interested any more.

"Bet they'll end up in bed together," Cath laughed as she finished her drink and put the empty glass in front of her husband.

"You think?" Trish laughed, sliding her empty glass across the table.

"Okay, I get the hint," Jim complained. "I might ask Rose Tyler for a dance later," he told them. "Leah, want another?"

"You wouldn't have the courage to talk to her, let alone ask her to dance," Cath told him as he got up.

"Serve you right if I did," Jim replied as he went off.

"Sorry Babe," Trish told her friend.

"Don't be, he's getting worse and I don't know how much longer I can keep on," Cath replied.

"Maybe you both need a change of scenery?" Trish suggested, thinking that would get her off the hook.

Rose was moving in time to the music, glad she recognised most of them after thinking they would be obscure.

"Well, can ya dance then?" she smiled at Alec, who was watching for Daisy.

"What? Oh, not really, I'm out of practice I'm afraid. I had a bad heart a while ago and not got used to the fact I can do things again," he replied.

"Oh, poor you. Are you okay now Alec?" Rose sounded concerned.

"I'm fine, really. Maybe a slow dance later? Please, you go ahead if you want to dance, I won't mind. After all, that is why you are here."

"I have to admit I was hoping I could just dance with you," Rose smiled at him. "I did read you'd been ill, after you caught that boy's killer. Wanna try a dance or two? It's slowed down a bit now."

How could he refuse, he wondered. He didn't want to offend her and have her going home and saying what a misery he'd been when he was supposed to be looking after her. After two dances, he decided he was enjoying himself and let Rose dance around him when the music got lively again.

Rose then wanted to go around saying hello to people, having Alec following her. She gave a few autographs and had photos taken when asked, Alec assuming she was used to it, then she wanted to go outside for some fresh air. Since she'd not collected her coat, Alec put his jacket around her shoulders.

"Thanks. I've had a great time, it's different to where I was the other night, that was so stuffy," she laughed, holding his jacket.

"It has been enjoyable," Alec had to admit. "Are you going home tomorrow?" he then regretted asking her.

Of course she was, just when he felt like asking her out before she left.

"Well, I promised I'd get something for my younger brother so I was gonna stay tomorrow and go home on Monday. So, where do you live then?"

"Ah, halfway up a cliff?" he smiled.

Rose nudged him.

"No! Go on, you're having me on Alec," Rose laughed.

"No, ask Daisy then. I used to live beside the river, then I went back to where my ex and Daisy lived but it never worked out so I asked to be transferred back here and Daisy came with me."

"She's a lucky girl, having you as a dad," Rose nudged him. "I grew up without mine, then mum met Pete Tyler and he's tried to make up for it."

"I'm sorry to hear about that Rose," Alec risked touching her arm.

"Can we go back inside? It's freezing out here," Rose shivered.

"Well you wanted to come outside," Alec reminded her, taking his jacket back as they went through the glass doors.

Beth had been looking for Rose, to thank her for being there and when she saw her coming back in with Alec, wondered what they'd been up to outside. She waved them over then got the microphone from the DJ.

"Rose, can you say a few words?" Beth asked her.

Rose thanked everyone for supporting the charity it was for, then she insisted on one more dance with Alec.

"Rose, you really did not have to stick with me all evening," he reminded her as she danced closer to him.

"I was enjoying your company Alec," she smiled as she turned her head.

"Well, in that case, would you maybe have dinner with me, tomorrow night?" he thought he would chance asking her.

Chapter 4

Rose was slightly taken aback but shouldn't have been that surprised Alec would dare ask her out. They had got on quite well and Alec had overcome his annoyance that his DS had dropped him right in it by getting him to agree to pick Rose up in her place.

He bet she'd made it all up anyway in order to get him to attend the dance and see if he'd actually do something about meeting Rose apart from picking her up. Ellie had been quite pleased with herself her little plan was coming together nicely when she'd seen Rose dancing with her boss, then dancing around him.

She'd been sitting with Beth and Beth could see the grin on her friend's face.

"What are you up to Ell?" Beth smiled. "Were you really having trouble with Fred?"

"What? Well I was at first so I called Hardy. He'd have been sat at home being a misery anyway," Ellie defended herself.

"Are we taking bets he'll take her back to the hotel?" Beth wanted to know.

"I'd say we bet he'll ask her out tomorrow night and she stays an extra night," Ellie laughed. "Just look at them, he is so taken with her."

Beth had to agree, the way Rose had been clinging hold of the detective all night like he was going to vanish. Alec was waiting for an answer from Rose.

"I've had a great time Alec," Rose admitted as she leaned on his shoulder when the music stopped.

"But not that great to stay another night?" Alec asked her, convinced she was going to say no.

"You caught me by surprise, that's all," Rose further admitted. "I never even thought I'd meet ya when I said I'd come here tonight."

"I would not have agreed to come," Alec told her as everyone was going off back to their tables.

"Did Ellie tell you I'd agreed?" Rose asked him as they realised they were the only ones still on the dance floor.

"She never stopped," he had to admit. "Now I know what she was planning all along."

"Ya mean she got ya to pick me up on purpose?" Rose smiled as she finished her drink.

"I would not put it past her," Alec replied. "I will go get your coat for you," he offered, still wondering what her answer was going to be, since she was evading the question.

Rose followed him to the bar area and he helped her on with her coat, seeing Beth and Ellie approaching them.

"Thanks again for agreeing to come tonight," Beth told her.

"It was a worthy cause, thanks for inviting me Beth," Rose smiled. "Ellie was very persuasive."

"Something you want to tell me Ellie?" Beth laughed.

"Yes Miller," Alec also wanted to know.

"I just rang her secretary," Ellie tried to convince them.

"You can tell me later," Beth told her. "Goodnight Miss Tyler. Come on Ellie, Rose must be tired."

Ellie wanted to stay to see what Hardy would do after he'd fussed over putting Rose's coat on her, he'd certainly taken his time.

"Alec," Rose turned to him as he stared at her while she fastened her coat up.

"What? Sorry. Ready to leave?" he asked her.

"I never gave ya an answer, about tomorrow night," she reminded him as they followed everyone else.

"I'm sure you have other plans," Alec resigned himself to her turning down his offer.

"I'd love to go out to dinner with ya Alec," she surprised him as they passed people waiting for cabs.

Alec stopped just before his car. It had got colder and frost was on the ground and forming on the cars, the headlights making it hang in the air but Rose also stopped.

"You would?" he asked, forgetting the cold. "Then I will find us somewhere to go and call for you?"

"Yeah, that would be nice Alec," Rose smiled. "Can we go now, it's freezing out here."

Alec remotely opened the car doors and helped Rose in, then put the heater on as he started the engine.

"I really did have a nice time Alec," Rose told him on the way back. "Do ya think I can maybe see where you live after we've been out tomorrow night? I've never been in a cottage halfway up a cliff before."

He saw she was smiling.

"If you wish?" he replied, wondering why she should want to see where he lived.

"Well I can meet your daughter properly then?"

They reached the hotel and he went to help her out of the car.

"I'm glad you came to pick me up tonight Alec," she told him. "I would have been fighting all the men off."

"Then I am glad I was there to rescue you," Alec replied. "You had best get inside. I will pick you up at seven tomorrow night."

"Yeah. Why don't ya give me your number?" Rose suggested. "Then I can text ya mine, ya can call me when ya get here."

Alec fished his phone out of his pocket. It was freezing cold and Rose wanted to swap mobile numbers.

"You give me yours," he suggested, hoping his fingers wouldn't be that cold he couldn't tap the numbers in.

Why couldn't she have done this in the warm car? Rose reeled her number off and Alec hurriedly saved it.

"Goodnight Rose, it was a pleasure to keep you company tonight and I look forward to tomorrow night," he told her.

As they stood at the side door of the hotel, Rose got the key out and Alec offered to take it and opened the door for her. She then surprised him by going to kiss his cheek.

"Night Alec, I'm looking forward to it as well. Ya'd better get out of the cold Alec," Rose replied, taking his hands as she got the key back.

Before he could stop her, she was warming them, since she was wearing soft velvety gloves. He felt some warmth coming back in his fingers, he would have had to warm them in the car before setting off back home and this was a much more pleasant way. He took his hands away, since he was feeling cold all over by now, just wearing his jacket.

"Sorry, I'll let ya get off then," Rose smiled.

He would have happily let her continue under other circumstances.

"Yes, right. I will call you," he replied.

Rose watched him walk off as she stood in the doorway, smiling to herself. Alec got back in the car, turning the heater up so the rest of him could warm up but wondering what had just happened. He had just stared at her as she warmed his hands and it had felt really good.

He had to remind himself she was only in the town for one more day, then she would be going home. At least he had Daisy with him this year, that was something. He hoped she wouldn't get them invited to spend Christmas day at the Latimer house, he didn't think it was a good idea.

He wasn't surprised to find Daisy wasn't home, she was spending a lot of time with Chloe lately. Rose was just as confused as Alec had been when she was rubbing his hands and fingers to warm them. She had to go home and she knew it. One date with Alec was all she could spare and if she got to see his cottage, then all well and good.

If he didn't think it was a good idea and he brought her back to the hotel, then at least she would have got a dinner invite out of him. She wouldn't forget him easily if nothing came of it though. The next day, she decided since there wasn't much open in the town she would drive down to Weymouth and have a look round there, finding something to take back for Tony.

She also decided to treat herself to a new dress, since she'd only taken something to wear for the night before. While Rose was down the coast, Daisy had got back home.

"I saw you and Rose going off last night Dad," Daisy teased him.

"I was taking her back to the hotel," Alec replied, wondering what she was hinting at.

"Well are you seeing her again?" she wanted to know. "Or are you going to let her just go home?"

"Since when did you start asking me questions like that?"

"Chill Dad, I was just wondering. Only if you're seeing her again, will you bring her back with you so I can meet her properly?"

"I may have asked her out," Alec tried to get out of it.

"You did!" Daisy laughed at him. "I think it's great Dad, especially after that disaster through that dating app."

"That was entirely your fault Daisy, you never put down I was divorced and had my teenage daughter staying with me," he reminded her.

He found somewhere to take Rose and sent her a text so she would get his number. Rose sent a message back saying it sounded nice and she was looking forward to it. Alec set off to pick her up at ten to seven and was thankful it wasn't quite as cold as the night before.

He let her know he was outside and went to the main entrance, seeing Becca coming out of the bar.

"Here again Inspector?" Becca smiled at him.

He didn't have time to reply as Rose came down the stairs, her coat over her arm. She had chosen a black sparkly knee length dress and Alec found himself staring at her.

"Hi Alec," Rose greeted him as she went up to him.

He found himself taking her coat from her and holding it out, Rose putting her arms in it. Becca was quite amused watching the pair of them and she bet anything something was already going on between them.

"Have a good time," Becca called after them as Alec opened the door.

"So, where are we going exactly?" Rose asked when he'd helped her into the car.

"Just outside town, on the way to Dorchester," he replied, hoping Rose was warm enough.

"I passed there today, I went down to Weymouth," Rose admitted.

She recognised the pub/restaurant she had passed earlier, just on a roundabout before the turnoff for Dorchester. Alec had made a reservation so they were shown to a table by a window that overlooked a lit garden at the back.

"This is nice Alec," Rose told him as they looked at the menu.

"I am glad you like it. So did you get something for your brother earlier?" he wanted to know.

"Yeah. Alec, ya know I can't stay. I want to, really I do but being with my family during the holidays is very important to me."

"I understand Rose, I was the same when Daisy was living with her mother. We intend to make the most of it this year," Alec replied.

Rose went quiet while deciding what to choose off the menu.

"I really like ya Alec," she then told him when the waiter had gone away. "What are you and Daisy gonna do, for the holidays?"

"Shopping," Alec smiled. "Nothing really fancy though."

"My mum will be going overboard as usual," Rose laughed. "We have a big party on Christmas Eve and a few friends over for Christmas dinner."

She leaned over and reached for his hands. He took hold of hers, rubbing his thumbs over them.

"Do you think you will come back here Rose?" he had to know, since Rose seemed to regret not being able to stay.

"I don't know Alec, really. Let's not get all gloomy?"

The trouble was, he did feel gloomy that she was going home. He'd never even intended meeting her, let alone beginning to have feelings for her. He let go of her hands as the waiter approached but knew asking her to come back wasn't going to work. Why did she have to look so desirable tonight?

They were quiet through their main course then Rose wanted dessert. While they waited, he moved his chair closer.

"You must know I like you a lot Rose?" Rose nodded. "Do you still want to see my cottage? Only Daisy wanted to meet you properly."

Rose decided since she was going home tomorrow, why not?

"Yeah, I'd like to meet her properly Alec. What's the view like from halfway up the cliff like then?" Rose smiled.

Once back in Broadchurch, Alec let her go first up the steps to the cottage.

"Is this someone's idea of a joke?" Rose asked as they set off. "They could have put a winding path or something here instead of all these steps."

Alec was smiling to himself, he hadn't even thought she'd agree when she saw how many steps there were, he thought she'd demand he take her back to the hotel. They finally reached the side door and Rose stopped to turn around.

"Wow, the harbour's all lit up," Rose noted. "You get to see this all the time."

Before Alec could stop her, she put her arms around him and leaned on his shoulder. He put his arms around her and she looked up at him and he leaned forward.

"Alec, spend the holidays with me, you and Daisy."

"In London?" he asked her, his lips a fraction away from hers.

"Well yeah," Rose smiled. "Watcha think?"

She closed the gap and Alec knew what his answer was going to be, if Daisy agreed. Rose thought it was the sweetest kiss she'd ever shared as they parted but Alec went to kiss her again.

"We should go inside," he reminded her as she held onto him.

"Yeah, it's still cold out here," Rose realised. "Did ya tell Daisy I'd come back with ya?"

"Yes, I just hope she did not invite her friend," Alec joked. "Daisy, we are back," he called out as they entered the kitchen.

"Dad. Oh hi Rose, I'm glad you came. I have so much to ask you," Daisy greeted them.

"Well before you start, Rose has something to ask us, don't you Rose?" Alec replied, wanting to make sure she meant it.

"Well, I just asked your dad if you wanted to come and spend the holidays with me, and my family of course," Rose asked the teenager.

"Really? Can we Dad, please?" Daisy pleaded with him.

He had already decided the answer was going to be yes.

"I have to go back tomorrow but why don't you two come over on Christmas Eve? I'll give you my address. You'll love it Daisy, my mum goes mad on the decorations," Rose laughed.

Daisy went to hug Rose, then Alec.

"I'm going to plan what I'm taking," Daisy told them excitedly.

"Well, that's settled then," Rose smiled. "Can you get the time off?"

"I will get another officer to cover for me, my DS was planning to be off for the holidays as well. Rose, would you maybe want to stay with me tonight?" he dared ask her.

After two glasses of wine, Rose went off to the bathroom and Alec to find a T-Shirt for her to borrow, not that he thought she was going to need it but he had to offer. A few kisses later, Rose forgot all about leaving the next morning as they gently made love under the duvet.

Alec woke the next morning with a mouthful of Rose's hair, smiling to himself that she was laid across him in just her underwear, which she'd insisted on putting back on before finally going to sleep.

"Rose, sweetheart," he called softly for her to move to let him up.

"Mmm?" was the reply he got. "What time is it?" she then asked.

"In a hurry to leave?" he teased her as he raised his eyebrows.

"Nope, I wanted to make sure we had time for a repeat of last night," she teased him back.

He hovered over her, going for her skimpy underwear and gave her his answer, Rose giggling as she put her arms around him and pulled him down for a kiss.

"You, Rose Tyler are amazing," Alec told her as he reached for his boxer shorts.

"So were you, I haven't felt like that before," Rose admitted.

"Really? Then I am glad it was me who made you feel like that. You get dressed while I get breakfast eh? Then I will take you back to the hotel."

"I really don't wanna leave Alec," Rose replied, sitting up and hugging her legs.

"Then stay a few days longer and we can go back together?" he suggested. "Rose, you must know how I feel about you? That I have fallen for you?"

Rose nodded and watched him getting dressed, smiling from behind her knees as he put clean shorts on but turned around, having second thoughts about letting her see him.

"Bloomin' cheek," Rose objected as she tried to peek.

"Maybe another time eh?" he teased her.

"I'll make ya keep that promise," Rose giggled back at him. "Can ya ask Daisy if she has any spare joggers or anything for me to wear?"

"I have some pyjama bottoms that are like that," Alec offered, going to the dresser.

He left her to get dressed and went to join Daisy in the kitchen.

"Is Rose still here?" Daisy teased him.

"If I said yes?" he just replied.

"Good, I'm glad if you had to get a girlfriend that it's her. Is she staying a bit longer then?"

Daisy got her answer when Rose emerged wearing Alec's t-shirt and pyjama bottoms. Rose finally had to put her dress back on and Alec dropped her at the hotel after she invited herself to stay at the cottage for another few nights, Daisy saying she'd wait in for her. Now she had to drop the bombshell on her mother.

"Ya did what?" Jackie asked her to make sure. "Ya met that detective and invited him here for the holidays?"

"You don't want me to?" Rose replied.

"I never said that. Well if ya got yaself involved with him, I want to meet him," her mother insisted.

"Don't go grilling him Mum, he'll know, with being a detective," Rose laughed.

Alec was already being grilled by Ellie Miller upon his arrival at the station.

"Well go on then, what happened," Ellie wanted to know.

"What are you talking about?" Alec tried denying.

"You and Rose Tyler," Ellie grinned. "Don't tell me nothing happened?"

"Miller, stop fishing," he told her. "By the way, tell Frank he's in charge over the holidays, Daisy and I will be away."

Ellie stood up in shock, since when did he take time off?

"You're spending the holidays with Rose Tyler, don't deny it Hardy," she laughed. "Well I never."

Alec decided he would take his leave that same afternoon, much to the chief's amusement and they all went shopping, Rose and Daisy going off on their own and Rose treating the teenager to a new outfit.

"You really like my dad, don't you Rose?" Daisy asked her as they were in the changing rooms.

"Yeah, I've never met anyone as nice as him before. I had this friend, a long time ago but that's all he was, just a friend. I think we're both serious Daisy, are you okay with that?"

"Yeah, I just want him to be happy again Rose," Daisy replied.

Rose got closer to Alec that night and they set off for London the next morning, Alec driving Rose's car after she promised someone would bring them back if she wasn't ready to leave home but on the way, the way Rose kept looking at him, he knew she would.

Everyone had a great time at the party Jackie was hosting, Alec sneaking into Rose's bedroom once everyone had left.

"I'm so glad I went to that charity dance Alec," Rose was telling him as they lay together.

"So am I Rose. I am just glad Daisy agreed when you asked us to spend the holidays with you."

"I would have stayed ya know, if she'd not wanted to come," Rose admitted.

"You would? You said spending time with your family was important," he reminded her, going to kiss her neck.

"It is but you've become important to me Alec, you and Daisy. Give me a few days to sort things after the holidays and I'll go back to Broadchurch. If ya have to go back to work, I'll bring Daisy back and someone will drive you home."

"I can stay off a few more days, my chief is big on family," Alec told her. "I want to take you back myself, Rose Tyler and I am glad I got to spend the holidays with you."

The End!

Do you remember me?

2022-02-15T11:21:00.030-08:00

Rose Tyler had moved to Sandbrook and became a hairdresser with her mother. Tess Hardy was one of her clients as was Cate Gillespie. When Cate's daughter goes missing, Rose is unsure whether to tell Alec Hardy of her conversation with young Pippa just before and what she had overheard between the girl and Cate. How can Alec get Rose to finally tell him what went on?

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Chapter 1

Jackie Tyler had got a two bedroom flat in the town of Sandbrook and had put leaflets through doors in some residential areas and managed to build up a good number of customers for her hairdressing business while Rose was at college. Sometimes Rose accompanied her mother and got away with helping her while she trained.

She finally got her certificates and Jackie offered her a job full time, since Rose had been working another job to earn extra money. Jackie decided to give her two of her clients, Tess Hardy and Cate Gillespie but Cate was unsure how her neighbour would take having a rival.

"You're asking for trouble," her husband warned her.

"Just because Claire lives next door doesn't mean I have to use her," Cate defended herself. "Claire never said anything when Jackie used to do it."

"You said someone else was taking over," Ricky replied.

"You would take notice of that," Cate complained as she heard her daughter calling her.

"Mum, can I go round to see Claire?" Pippa wanted to know.

"You spend too much time there," Ricky reminded her.

"Your father's right," Cate agreed. "Maybe at the weekend. Tomorrow night, I want you to get your hair trimmed, the new hairdresser's coming round."

"But Mum, I like Claire to do it," the young girl complained.

"I don't like it when she does it without asking me first," Cate told her.

"I want to be a hairdresser when I'm older," Pippa replied. "Do I have to get my hair cut?"

"Don't argue with your mother," Ricky raised his voice to her.

Over at the other side of town, Rose had just arrived at Tess Hardy's house, where Tess was trying to find out what time her husband would be home.

"Sorry about that," Tess apologised to Rose. "Anyway, can you show me some new hairstyles, I think I want a change."

"Yeah, I can show some to you," Rose agreed, going into her bag.

What Tess didn't want to say was it wasn't for her husband's benefit but one of the other male DS's on the team, who had been saying it was the same for him at home and that his wife took no notice of him.

"What do you think?" Rose was showing Tess the back of her head in the mirror.

"Yes, I like it," Tess agreed. "You're every bit as good as your mother."

"Thanks. So ya want me to come again?" Rose smiled.

Tess made another booking and Rose was about to leave as Alec opened the kitchen door, making Rose jump back as he reached the door handle at the same time.

"What?" Alec cursed as the handle flipped back up.

"Sorry," Rose mumbled as she saw a man standing there.

"Who are you?" he managed to ask.

"Really Alec, she's the hairdresser," Tess called to him as she puffed her hair up a bit more and hoped she'd be able to recreate the style in the morning.

"I have to get going," Rose reminded Tess as Alec was still in the way.

"Well let her out," Tess chastised him.

Without saying anything else apart from a rushed 'Bye', Rose made her retreat and got into her small car she'd managed to save up for after passing her driving test. Wondering what all that was about, she made her way to the new estate on the edge of town to visit another client, Cate Gillespie.

She really hoped her husband wasn't going to be there, he made her nervous, which wasn't good when you had a pair of scissors in your hand. It was young Pippa who answered the door as Cate was finishing a glass of wine.

"Hi Rose, come in," Pippa greeted her.

She did like Rose but there was something exciting about going next door, Lee always made a fuss over her when he was in.

"Rose, do you have time to trim Pippa's hair as well?" Cate asked her.

"Yeah, you're my last appointment today," Rose agreed.

"You should get a salon," Cate was telling her as they chatted.

"Mum and I decided against it," Rose laughed. "It's easier now I can drive though."

Pippa was getting impatient to know if she could go and see Claire. Why had her mother insisted Rose had cut her hair when she liked Claire to do it?

Rose was just clearing up when Pippa joined them in the kitchen.

"No Pippa, I don't want you going round there," Cate was telling the girl.

"But Mum," Pippa complained.

"Do you want to make another appointment now?" Rose spoke up before she left.

"Can I call you?" Cate replied, not wanting to keep Rose any longer.

"Yeah, if ya want?" Rose had to agree, wondering where the girl meant when she was told she couldn't go somewhere.

Cate was hoping Rose hadn't been taking any notice. When Rose opened the door, Pippa was sitting outside the house.

"Hi there, are ya okay?" Rose stopped to ask the girl.

"Yeah, my mum won't let me go next door," Pippa admitted.

"Maybe she has a reason?" Rose replied as she put her bag in the back of the car.

"She doesn't like me going there but she won't tell me why," Pippa admitted.

Rose wondered why the girl was telling her. Did Pippa think she could trust her?

"Well maybe she thinks ya might be disturbing them?" was all Rose could think of saying.

Pippa shook her head and looked up.

"I don't know. She doesn't mind me seeing them when they come to our house or we all go to theirs," Pippa told her. "Especially when Lee's there."

"Well, you'll just have to ask your mum why," Rose concluded. "Sorry I can't help ya."

"She might let me go if Lisa goes with me," Pippa then told her. "She's my older cousin."

"Yeah, maybe?" Rose smiled at the girl. "See ya."

As Rose was driving off, Cate went to see where Pippa was.

"Were you just talking to someone?" she asked the girl as she saw Rose going off.

"Just the hairdresser," Pippa admitted.

"I hope it was nothing, she doesn't need to know anything," Cate replied.

Rose thought nothing off it until Cate called her for her hair doing for a wedding.

"Are ya sure ya want me to do it?" Rose wanted to make sure.

"I don't talk to the woman next door much," Cate replied. "If that's what you're thinking? Can you come on Friday?"

Rose checked her appointments and noticed Tess had also booked but she would be able to squeeze them both in, they were turning out to be her best clients. She went to visit Tess first and asked how she'd got on with the last style.

"Fine, the girls at the station liked it," Tess told her as Rose was getting set up.

Tess didn't want to say it had done no good trying to dress up a bit for Alec, she was about to give up trying to impress him. Dave had asked her out that evening for a drink and since Daisy was staying with a friend, she could make up the excuse she was going to her mother's.

"I want something different this time," Tess added.

"I got the impression your husband wasn't expecting me to be here the last time," Rose told her as she put some clips in Tess's hair.

"Take no notice of him Rose," Tess laughed. "What does he know? How does he expect me to fit things in when I'm at work?"

Rose knew she was a detective, other than that, she had no idea what her husband did.

"So, does your daughter want to follow ya into the police?" Rose carried on chatting.

"She hasn't decided yet," Tess replied. "She may be put off with us both being in it."

Well that answered that question, Rose supposed. She finished in good time to get to Cate's and wondered if the young girl had got her own way since her last visit. When Rose got there, an older girl answered the door. Lisa was staying over since she was looking after Pippa for the weekend.

"Hi, you must be Rose?" Lisa greeted Rose.

"Oh, are you Pippa's cousin?" Rose asked.

"Yeah, I'm looking after her, no kids allowed at the wedding," Lisa told her. "She doesn't trust them next door."

"Lisa, that's enough," Cate warned her as she entered the kitchen. "Rose isn't interested. Thanks for fitting me in Rose."

"Lisa, I want to go out on my bike," Pippa called from the hallway, where Rose had passed a bike.

"If you go out, don't you take her next door Lisa," Cate warned her as she sat where Rose indicated.

"I never said I was going to," Lisa complained.

"Make sure you keep away while we're gone," Cate reminded her.

Rose was sure she shouldn't even be listening and what would the younger girl's mother think if she found out she'd talked to Pippa outside a few weeks ago? She couldn't get involved, not if she wanted to keep Cate as a client but did she want to keep coming back if she was going to keep hearing more of the same?

"So, are ya looking forward to this wedding?" Rose asked Cate when Lisa had disappeared.

"Yes and no," Cate admitted, not wanting to say Ricky would be up to his usual tricks. "It's the first time we've left Pippa overnight with her cousin."

"Well I'm sure you'll enjoy it once there," Rose replied, stuck for something to say. "It's ages since I went to a wedding."

"I don't know why we have to stay overnight," Cate then complained.

"Better than gettin' caught driving if ya want to have a drink?" Rose thought.

"I suppose so?" Cate agreed, wanting to get another glass of wine.

"Well, hope ya have a good time then. So, is your hair okay?" Rose asked her.

Cate looked in the mirrors and nodded her approval. She got up and went to the drawer where she had saved the money to pay and handed it to Rose.

"I'll call when I want another appointment," Cate told her. "I won't be going next door."

Rose was sure the woman had said that last time. She gathered her things but dared to ask Cate if she could use the bathroom.

"Sure, top of the stairs," Cate told her as she headed for the living room.

As Rose went upstairs, one of the bedroom doors was open, looking like it was Pippa's judging by the pile of clothes on top of the bed. Then she saw a pendant lying in the doorway and debated whether to pick it up but thought better of it, in case she was accused of something.

She went back downstairs, seeing Cate sitting in a chair with a glass in her hand.

"Bye then," Rose called to her.

She got no reply so she went to the front door and saw Pippa in the street as she opened it.

"Did you leave my aunt with a glass in her hand?" Lisa asked Rose.

"It's not my place to say anything," Rose replied.

"I won't say anything," Lisa promised. "I don't get on with her, I only come round to see Pippa, it's not her fault if her mother acts like she does. Cate's only staying out overnight because she won't be in any state to get home."

"Everyone gets totalled at a wedding," Rose joked as Pippa came over to join them.

"Bye Rose," Pippa called to her. "Did I say I want to be a hairdresser when I get older?"

"Ya might have done," Rose smiled at the girl. "That's a great bike, I had a red one when I was younger. My mum thought I was mad wanting one when we lived in a block of flats. She wasn't gonna get me one but then there it was, on the balcony."

"That was lucky then," Pippa laughed.

As Rose drove off, she wondered why that had suddenly come to mind after all that time. Neither herself or her mother had known where it had come from, her mother denying she had anything to do with its appearance. The next day, the pair of them went shopping and compared the clients they'd each had during the past week.

"How are ya getting on with Cate and Tess?" Jackie wanted to know as they'd stopped in a store's café.

"Well Tess doesn't say much," Rose admitted. "Cate's a bit funny though, she keeps going on about the woman next door and telling her daughter to keep away."

"I was always telling you to stay away from people," Jackie recalled. "Well until I got to know them."

They both laughed and thought no more about it until the middle of the following afternoon, when the news came on the radio as they were clearing up after Sunday lunch.

"Shush Mum," Rose urged Jackie as she heard a police appeal for information about two girls being missing.

Tess's morning had been interrupted as she was on callout for any emergencies over the weekend and she was complaining once again to Alec.

"Well, are you coming with me?" Tess wanted to know. "I'll call my mother, see if Daisy can be dropped off."

"Can't deal with on your own?" Alec was annoyed she needed him to go with her.

"Alec, it will look better, we're talking about two young girls being missing," Tess reminded him.

"Fine, Daisy may not be pleased," Alec reluctantly agreed.

Daisy was complaining on the short journey to Tess's mother's house that her parents were always leaving her when something came up.

"Why do you both have to go?" Daisy wanted to know.

"Because a girl around your age has gone missing," Alec replied as they stopped outside the house. "Stay here until we call you. Don't go calling for any of your friends, understand?"

"Did you have to talk like that Alec?" Tess asked when she got back in the car after seeing Daisy inside.

"It's best she knows Tess," Alec told her as he drove off to the estate just outside town.

As they got nearer, Tess wondered if it was the same estate as Rose, her hairdresser sometimes went to but it could be any of the new ones that were springing up all over the place. She forgot all about it as they began to talk to the distraught parents, Cate and Ricky Gillespie, Ricky immediately blaming the girls being missing on their next door neighbours.

"Ricky went round, when we came back," Cate admitted to Tess tearfully. "I said I'd told Lisa not to take Pippa round there."

"Is there any reason Lisa would defy you?" Tess asked. "Cate, I have an almost teenager as well, I know how you feel."

"Lisa has a 'thing' about Lee," Cate admitted, not wanting to say she herself had got involved with him but it had ended badly.

"Well, tell me again where Lisa might have taken her either last night or before you got home," Tess tried to take Cate's mind off the neighbours.

"You think Lisa took her off last night?" Ricky overheard as Alec followed him.

Alec was trying to keep them separated, for now.

"Stop it Ricky, Lisa wouldn't go off with Pippa," Cate told him. "Someone took them."

"Because the patio door was open?" Alec wanted to know. "The girls may have been outside themselves, is there any way around the back?"

"Only a gate to next door," Ricky admitted. "It had to be the Ashworths."

Alec had seen the report from next door, which basically said the couple knew nothing about the girls being missing until Ricky had knocked loudly on the door when they had got back. As time went on, the less likely it was the girls had just wandered off, Alec thought.

Rose was listening carefully, recognising the Scottish voice giving short details and for anyone with information to call a number. She'd only heard him talk briefly before but she recognised it none the less. Should she say anything about what she'd heard at the Gillespie house?

"Hey, I remember there was a young girl called Pippa," Jackie spoke up after the newsreader had moved onto another item. "You'll have seen her Rose."

"She might have just been going out when I got there Mum, I don't remember," Rose bluffed.

She had to think carefully before getting involved in the disappearance of her client's daughter, especially since she'd last seen both girls on Friday night. Surely the police wouldn't be interested in what she'd heard and what Cate had said to her? Cate wouldn't thank her for interfering. Some choice.

Chapter 2

Alec was getting tired of Ricky Gillespie blaming the neighbours all the time. The man had even told a nosy newspaper reporter he blamed them and Alec had gone crazy. It had all started a few days later when Alec had gone under the water to bring the youngest girl to the riverbank after spotting her against the fast moving fallen debris.

Of course, Tess thought trust him to be the one to find Pippa. While he was being checked by the paramedics, she and Dave had to go tell the already upset parents of their discovery.

"Where's Pippa?" Ricky tried to ask calmly. "I want to see my little girl."

"Give them chance Ricky," Tess was trying to tell him. "Let them get her to the hospital, you don't want to see her yet."

"How do you know?" Ricky snapped at her. "Sorry. Are you sure it's her?"

"I'm sorry but yes," Tess had to tell him, thinking how many more missing girls were there he expected them to find a few days after his daughter went missing?

"Let them do their job Ricky," Cate told him, another glass of wine in her hand.

"Who found her?" Ricky then wanted to know.

"It was DI Hardy," Dave told him, since Tess had been less than impressed it had to be him out of all the police officers in the woods.

On the way over, she'd done nothing but complain about her almost ex husband. He'd tried to sympathise with her but all she was bothered about was what she would tell her daughter.

"Is there any reason the girls would be in the woods?" Dave asked Ricky again.

"No, I already told you," Ricky insisted.

"They'll be a car outside to take you to identify Pippa, an officer will let you know," Tess told him. "One of us will meet you there."

"Okay, thanks Tess," Ricky replied, not asking about Alec.

Cate remembered though.

"Is your husband okay, going in to bring Pippa out of the river?"

"He was being checked over when we left," Tess told her. "Don't worry about him Cate."

"Can we make funeral arrangements when Pippa's been identify?" Ricky asked her.

"No, sorry Ricky, there has to be an enquiry and then we have to find out how she got there," Tess explained.

"Well it had better not take long," Ricky told her. "Can we have some time to ourselves now?"

"Of course," Tess apologised for keeping them.

As soon as they had left, Cate turned on Ricky, lashing out at him.

"It's all your fault Ricky, we should never have left them," she was shouting at him.

"You left Lisa in charge," Ricky was trying to blame her. "I said she'd take Pippa next door."

He didn't want her to know the truth, about him coming back and what had taken place. He still blamed Lisa for taunting him by going with Lee and he'd caught them in the act, seeing everything. If Lisa hadn't gloated over it, both girls may still be alive. He could maybe have calmed Pippa down, Lee had no right to deal with her.

Now, Claire was holding evidence against him, just as he was against them, none of them could dare say anything but he didn't have to be happy about it. He could still point the finger next door and there was nothing they could do about it.

It had been nothing to them, they should suffer as well. Alec was back at the police station and had got some dry clothes, having been advised to get checked out properly at the hospital but he had enough to do at present. He was waiting for Tess's report from the coroner, to see if Pippa had drowned or if there had any signs it was more.

Rose got back that evening, having heard the news on the car radio and she'd had to stop as she'd felt sick. Her mother noticed she'd looked a little pale as she sat with a mug of tea.

"You heard?" Jackie asked her. "I'm sorry Rose but it didn't say they'd found her cousin."

"I didn't know her very well but it's still upsetting," Rose admitted.

"What aren't ya tellin' me Rose?" her mother wanted to know. "Ya must have seen her, I saw the invoice from a few week ago, ya trimmed Pippa's hair. Why didn't ya want me to know? It's not like you Rose."

"I'm sorry Mum, really I am. I didn't wanna talk about it. Do ya think I should tell the police, I mean I was there that Friday night before they went missing."

"Oh? I'd be very careful if I were you sweetheart," Jackie told her. "Did ya talk to 'em?"

"For a few minutes, yeah. Pippa wanted Lisa to go outside with her while she rode her bike," Rose told her.

"Well, I expect they want to talk to anyone who saw them before they disappeared?" Jackie wondered.

"I'll call at the police station, tomorrow lunchtime then? As long as I'm not there long," Rose decided.

"Yeah, ya should," Jackie agreed. "Call whoever's your first appointment in the afternoon, if ya get held up."

Feeling a little better, they both watched the extended local evening news, where it showed the debris in the part of the river Pippa had been discovered by Alec in. Then the presenter went over to police headquarters, where Alec had prepared a short statement.

"We urge anyone who may have seen either or both girls prior to their disappearance to contact your local police station. It does not matter how much or how little information you may have, it is important we piece together what happened prior to our discovery."

He then went on to repeat a telephone number, Rose scribbling it down in case she didn't get seen at the police station.

"Look at him Mum," Rose noticed the look in Alec's eyes. "Bet ya he found Pippa."

"What makes ya think that?" Jackie asked as the newsreader came back on. "Bet it's on the national news now as well?"

"He looks tired Mum," Rose told Jackie.

"Rose, they'll all be tired, they've been searching for the last few days," Jackie laughed. "Ya taking this very personally sweetheart."

"How can I not Mum?" Rose replied. "Well, I'll try to tell them tomorrow, bet it'll be busy though?"

"Ya have to at least try," Jackie insisted.

Alec was tired as he went back to his new apartment. It was taking some getting used to but he had to make the most of it, he couldn't have continued to live with Tess. He had more questions for the Gillespies that he thought Tess would have failed to ask, such as any visitors, particularly any new ones and whether Lee Ashworth had ever done any work for them.

He'd heard they used to socialise but not recently and wondered why they had suddenly stopped. If they'd had a fallout, maybe he should dig a little deeper next door? He'd wait and see what Tess had to say first. They still had to work together as best as they could, he'd heard her say trust it to be him who had found Pippa.

The next morning, Ricky was just leaving for work as Claire was going out.

"Stay away from Cate," Ricky warned her. "She doesn't need to know what went on that night. You'd better not say anything to the police, Claire."

"Neither had you," Claire answered him. "Just remember what I told you."

"If Cate suspects anything, she'll talk to that female detective, trust me. What happened with you and Cate anyway?" Ricky wanted to know.

"You have bigger problems than worrying about that," Claire laughed. "Who was that woman who was visiting Cate just before the wedding? I saw her a few weeks before that, getting into a car."

"Hairdresser, who took over from an older woman," Ricky replied.

"So that's why she stopped coming to me?" Claire replied. "She has some nerve," Claire huffed as she unlocked the car door.

Ricky had to laugh to himself, Claire only had herself to blame. Before Claire had gone out, Lee was grilling her.

"Remember what we agreed Claire?" he wanted to make sure.

"Stop it Lee," Claire struck out at him. "It's all your fault, not keeping your hands off Lisa."

"The little tart started it," Lee insisted.

"What did Ricky have over you?" Claire wanted to know.

"You'll be late for work Claire. You'd best go before the police come back," Lee warned her.

"You had better hope no-one notices the new floor Lee," Claire told him. "Did ya have to go back for more material then?"

"They weren't taking any notice Claire, it's a busy place," Lee laughed it off. "If business doesn't start picking up, we'll have to sell the car."

"What?" Claire replied. "How am I going to get to work?"

"You're always complaining there's never anywhere to park," Lee reminded her.

So Claire wasn't in the mood for being stopped by Ricky on her way to work. She'd been annoyed Cate had suddenly turned on her for doing Pippa's hair so she assumed Cate was paying her back by getting a mobile hairdresser in. Then she had stopped Pippa going round on her own unless Lisa was with her.

Rose set off to visit her first client and hoped she'd have the courage to pay a visit to the police station in town but she didn't know where the detective in charge was based so she had to trust someone there would contact him. Her information may not be relevant anyway so she hoped she wouldn't waste their time.

Alec thought he was expecting too much from the appeal he'd put out for information. He was waiting for a junior officer sifting through all the message to see what was important and got a few leads so he set out mid-morning to visit another person on the same estate but around the back.

"I'm glad you’re here, detectives," Miss Spencer who lived in the upstairs flat behind the Ashworths told Alec. "I didn't realise you wanted to speak to anyone around here."

"Any information would be very helpful," Alec told her after she'd insisted on making some tea.

"There's always been something funny about that couple behind me," she admitted. "He put a gate between the two houses, goodness knows what for but I find it rather worrying, since I've seen him using it to go next door."

Now, Alec was very interested in what she had to tell him.

"Did he now?" Alec replied. "Did you see either of the girls using it?"

"On a Sunday, yes," the woman admitted.

"This is very important," Alec stressed. "What about last Saturday?"

"As you can see, the lounge doesn't look out of the back, just the kitchen and bathroom," she replied. "They used to have barbecues last summer as well."

Alec thought that was interesting, since Ricky Gillespie said they didn't have much to do with each other. What had changed, he wondered.

The woman went on for a while and Alec finally got another call and excused himself. He wasn't back as Rose arrived at the police station and was being asked for the details.

"I've told ya, I spoke to Pippa and Lisa before they disappeared," Rose was telling the desk sergeant. "Don't ya have a detective I can talk to?"

"I'm sorry Miss, everyone's busy with that appeal going out. If you'll just give me your contact details, I'll get someone to call you," she was told.

"Well, I can't always answer my phone when I'm working," Rose admitted. "I don't want anyone who calls me to think I'm ignoring them."

"I'll make a note of it. We just don't have anyone spare at the moment, the phone lines have been very busy," the sergeant admitted.

Rose was about to leave as Alec came in but she daren't speak to him, with him being in charge, she expected she'd have to speak to someone else first.

"Sir, there's a pile of messages for you," the desk sergeant called to Alec.

He handed the pile to Alec, him seeing the top one.

"Who left this one?" Alec wanted to know, seeing Rose's name and that she'd seen the two girls.

"The young lady who just left," the sergeant had to admit.

"Then why wasn't she interviewed?" Alec wanted to know. "Get her back, now."

"You heard him Jones," the sergeant turned around to another officer. "Go catch the woman who was just here."

"Right Sarge," the young officer grinned as Alec shook his head.

"We should give more priority if the girls were seen shortly before they disappeared than ones who saw them a week before," Alec pointed out.

Rose was just about to get in her car, hoping she'd not get a parking ticket when she saw a young uniformed officer on the steps, looking around. She thought he could have been looking for anyone as she reversed out of the parking spot.

Not realising, the young officer let her drive off, going back inside.

"She must have already left Sir," he told Alec. "Sorry Sir."

"She can't have left that fast Jones," the sergeant told him as he saw the look on Alec's face. "See if she's still outside, it's important."

Alec waited but the young officer came back in and shook his head.

"Sir, she must have driven off," he told Alec.

"Well give me the details and if she calls back, put her straight through," Alec insisted.

The desk sergeant nodded. If the detective was in, he would put the young woman through but Hardy was more often out than in these days.

"What's wrong with you?" Tess wanted to know as he passed by her desk.

"We could have had vital information had a potential witness not been allowed to leave before giving a statement," he replied.

"Not another one?" Dave muttered to himself as he sat opposite Tess.

"Why are you two in instead of following up any leads?" Alec wanted to know. "I've just interviewed a neighbour behind where the Ashworths live, she had plenty to say."

"Well you would," Tess told him. "So who was this witness that just got away?"

Alec looked at the details.

"Someone called Rose Tyler, who says she saw the two girls before they disappeared," Alec replied, squinting at the writing.

"Did you say Rose Tyler?" Tess wanted to know.

"Yes, why?" Alec turned to look at her.

"She's my hairdresser Alec. She did mention she did someone's hair out on the estate but it could have been anyone. Do you want me to call her?" Tess wondered.

"No, we don't have time for the two of you to be discussing hairstyles," Alec replied dryly, getting a snigger from Dave. "Why didn't you mention her before?" he then asked Tess.

"How was I to know she was the one who went out to the estate and did Cate Gillespie's hair?" Tess wanted to know.

"Did you not put two and two together?" Alec replied. "Is she that young blonde I saw leaving a while back?"

"Who else would it have been?" Tess asked him.

Alec just shrugged his shoulders and went to his office. How was he supposed to know? Now, it fell on him to interview the potential witness, he couldn't have Tess interviewing her own hairdresser.

Rose had gone off disappointed no-one was able to listen to what she had to tell them and hoped that whoever her details had been passed to wouldn't call her while she was with her next client. She thought she should be prepared though, just in case anyone did try to call her. She just hoped it wouldn't be Tess, it would be embarrassing and surely Tess wouldn't be allowed to interview her anyway?

She was about to leave her last client for the day when her personal phone rang, the display saying it was an unknown number. She was always a bit cautious when answering those sort of numbers in case someone had got hold of it and was trying to sell her something. Then she realised it may be the police calling her back.

Answering with a quiet "Hello," she heard a Scottish voice asking if he was speaking to Rose Tyler.

"Yeah, that's me," Rose tried to sound cheerful.

"Miss Tyler, this is DI Hardy, South Mercia police. Are you able to talk?" Alec asked hopefully, since he'd nothing to do and had figured she should be finished working.

Then he remembered he'd seen her leaving where he used to live around this time.

"Yeah, ya just caught me before I was setting off home. Did ya want to talk about when I last saw Pippa and Lisa?"

"Well yes. You saw both of them?" Alec replied, wondering why the sergeant had not written that down instead of 'has information' on the piece of paper. "When was that?"

"Last Friday evening. Sorry, this is a bit strange, since I do your wife's hair," Rose let out a nervous laugh.

"That does not matter, just tell me what happened. You spoke to both of them? How did they seem?" Alec asked.

"Pippa seemed happy enough, she was riding her bike," Rose replied. "I went inside the house, Lisa let me in and Pippa told Lisa she wanted to play on her bike," Rose added, trying to remember if that was when she arrived or as she was leaving. "Then Pippa's mother warned them not to go next door. It seemed a bit odd really. I mean they never mentioned going next door."

"Right, did she now?" Alec finally replied. "When you say warned?" he wondered.

"It was the way she said it, I can't really describe it. I think Pippa might have questioned it, then they went off. I know the woman next door is also a hairdresser, Cate wanted me to do her hair for a wedding the next day. She said something about them falling out," Rose recalled.

"Would you be able to come down to the station and give a statement?" Alec asked her. "We are trying to establish what may have made the two girls go off last Saturday night. You may have noticed something important but not realised. When would be convenient?"

"Well this is the best time, after I finish work," Rose told him.

"Well can you make it tomorrow evening?" Alec asked. "Any time you are free, just tell the desk you are here to see me. Is there anything else you could tell us?" he wanted to make sure.

"Well yeah, there was the time before that, when I spoke to Pippa as I was leaving," Rose replied.

Now, Alec was very interested in what Rose had to say, she could be crucial to this case. The only problem was, she was also Tess's hairdresser and he hoped Rose hadn't already said anything to her about it.

Chapter 3

When Rose got home, she told her mother that she would be late back the following evening.

"I hope ya know what ya gettin' into?" Jackie reminded her.

Rose slumped onto the kitchen table, resting her head on her arms.

"What am I supposed to do Mum?" she wanted to know. "I know what I overheard. Well not overheard, they were talking in front of me, like it was normal for them."

"It was just kids Rose," Jackie tried to tell her.

"Lisa's not exactly a kid Mum," Rose replied. "I don't know the neighbours so I can't say anything, if Pippa should be allowed to see them or not, even if her mother had fallen out with them. I don't know if it's important or not Mum but the police are saying they want any kind of information."

"Well, I suppose if it's not wasting their time?" Jackie wondered. "Does the detective know who you are though?"

"Yeah, I was just leaving one night and he asked who I was. Mum, I hate to ask but can you take the next appointment Tess makes? If they make anything of what I have to tell 'em, it'll look bad if I'm still Tess's hairdresser."

"Rose, she'll probably be too busy now to get some fancy hairstyle," Jackie laughed. "I wonder why she wanted different styles though?"

"No idea Mum," Rose looked up, trying to smile at the thought. "She must be trying something different to get on his good side? Anyway, it's nothing to do with me."

She tried to forget about it and to tell Tess, if she did want an appointment that she couldn't visit and it would have to be her mother. The only thing was that she'd have to get the car back in time and take a cab to her last appointment if it was nearer than Tess's house. She doubted that Cate would want an appointment.

Alec wasn't going to tell Tess that he would be interviewing her hairdresser the following evening, she couldn't be present given that she probably chatted to Rose, mainly about him. Who knew what went on between a hairdresser and their clients? Was he just being paranoid? Anyway, he wouldn't be walking in again and catching Rose leaving and wondering what had been said nor why Tess had yet another new hairstyle.

He was certain it hadn't been him Tess had been trying to impress. The next morning, he was kept busy and managed to avoid Tess, who was wondering what was wrong with him.

"Go ask him Tess," Dave was encouraging her. "What happened to your hair anyway? Not been able to keep up with that fancy style you had?"

Tess patted her hair. So he had been paying attention?

"I barely have time to get Daisy to school," Tess replied. "If we didn't have this investigation, I'd get it fixed but the hairdresser will have finished working by the time I get home."

Dave laughed to himself. Had she been doing it for his benefit? Well judging by recent events, it wouldn't be for Alec's, would it? No, her husband hadn't been able to get out fast enough, had he? Alec had seen all the signs himself and Tess had the beginnings of an affair and had packed his bags. He'd heard from one of the office staff, who had thought he'd fancied her that the DI had got a new place on his own, big enough for him and Daisy, if she wanted to stay over.

Tess had complained that he'd moved out over the weekend before, without any notice and she'd finally had to admit it was over between them.

Rose was getting nervous as the afternoon went on and thinking about backing out but it could be important. She'd been thinking about what Alec had said, that the smallest detail could be important and she could have seen or heard something that no-one else had. She remembered poor Pippa sitting outside her house that night and telling her she liked going next door. Maybe the girl had got to like the woman who lived there?

Alec was waiting for Rose to arrive and not wanting to tell Tess why he was still there as she was leaving.

"Really Alec, there are plenty of other people working on the case," she had reminded him. "When are you calling to see Daisy? She's really upset to find out you've moved out."

"What do you expect me to do Tess? Stay there and pretend nothing has happened?" he asked her. "It was a mistake to get there early that Sunday morning those girls went missing. It was your idea for me to get there early and pretend I was still living there."

"You would say that," Tess complained. "You could have at least explained it better to her."

"What do you want me to tell her Tess?" he wanted to know. "That her mother's cheating by starting an affair with another detective?"

Tess wanted to go round the other side of his desk and slap him, only it was nearer the truth than she cared to admit.

"Dave and I are just friends Alec. He listens to me, unlike you do."

Alec held his hands up.

"You're just fooling yourself Tess, not me. I've heard all the whispering going on, others here already knew there was something going on between the two of you."

"Well if you'd rather believe gossip than me?" Tess asked him. "What do you want to do about it?"

She hoped he'd say they'd try and make up but maybe it was already too late for that? Did she want to, when she was sure he wasn't interested?

"There's someone coming in to give a statement," Alec changed the subject.

"Who is it now?" Tess wondered. "I thought everyone on the estate had been interviewed?"

"So did I, this one called in when we were out yesterday so I gave them a call back," Alec replied. "I will get someone to do the interview with me, don't let me stop you picking Daisy up."

"I should get suspicious you're trying to get rid of me Alec," Tess replied.

"It could be nothing Tess, it doesn't take two senior officers to do the interview," he reminded her. "Not meeting Dave first then?"

Tess stormed out, making Alec smile. Dave was waiting in the entranceway and saw the mood she was in.

"Someone upset you?" he asked innocently.

"Shut up Dave," Tess told him, getting her car keys out of her purse.

"I thought we'd arranged to meet at the pub?" he asked.

"I'm not in the mood Dave, I just left Alec's office and I could have slapped him, honestly," she admitted.

"Don't let him get to you Tess," Dave laughed. "He's just trying to wind you up. Come on, you can call Daisy and get her to stay where she is for another hour, can't you? Tell her you're interviewing someone."

"That's just what Alec's said, that someone's coming in to give a statement. I can't think who it would be that we've not already interviewed," Tess told him.

"Maybe he's using it as an excuse to meet someone?" Dave tried not to laugh again.

Tess hit his arm to get him to move out the way, Dave then following her. He put his hand on the top of her car, preventing her getting in.

"Come on Tess, Daisy can wait and let Alec interview someone on his own or are you jealous he could be meeting someone?" he wanted to know.

"He wouldn't have the nerve to start something, he knows I'd stop Daisy from seeing him if he did," Tess replied. "Okay, I'll call Daisy but I can't stay more than an hour at the pub," she relented.

"I'll go ahead and get a corner seat away from everyone then?" Dave grinned, knowing it wouldn't take much to change her mind.

Maybe if he was lucky he'd get more than a few quick kisses out of her, then go back to his car for a bit more than another quick snog in the back seat. If no-one had already claimed that parking space right at the back of the pub car park, where there was some fencing and no-one would notice them.

He was sure Tess was about to give in to him, if he could get her in the mood for 'it' in the back seat. She'd admitted she and Alec had been drifting away from each other for weeks before he'd actually left her. It might be his lucky night, his wife would never even suspect anything with this case going on. Even then, if she did accuse him of anything, he'd ask her when she thought he had the time for an affair.

Tess had seen the smirk on his face as he moved his hand. Well if Alec was no longer interested in her and Dave was, why should she turn him away? At least he didn't have any expectations of her when he'd noticed her hair but had Alec even noticed when she'd had it done and the hairdresser was just leaving? Then she remembered her conversation with Alec the day before and she bet anything it was the young hairdresser who he was waiting to interview.

What could Rose possible have to say that was worth interviewing her for? Was it just an excuse for him to get to know her? Well good luck to her then, once she found out he was only interested in work these days. She thought it may be worth her while waiting for Rose to arrive but she saw Dave driving off and did she really want to keep him waiting?

Tess had just quickly called Daisy to say she was interviewing someone and had just left as Rose arrived and found somewhere to park marked 'Visitors' rather than a space with someone's name on it or marked for senior personnel only. She walked up to the desk and asked for Alec.

"He's expecting me," Rose added as she gave her name. "He called me to come in, last night."

"Yes Miss, I was told," the desk sergeant told her. "Take a seat and I'll let him know you're here."

Rose watched as the man spoke into the phone, informing Alec his visitor had arrived. Sergeant Mayhew wasn't one for subscribing to idle gossip but word had got around about Hardy's wife and another detective so it was only natural the detective would get his revenge. Now, a likely candidate had just walked in and her being young and blonde made it even more likely he was right.

Alec put his desk phone down and went to meet Rose, after telling one of the young DS's to wait for him in the less formal interview room. He reached the desk and saw Rose waiting, remembering her from a few weeks ago. He'd noticed then she was very pretty but far too young for him to get interested in her.

"Miss Tyler, this way," Alec told her, making her jump as he appeared in front of her.

Rose followed him and he indicated for her to enter the room, Rose noticing it looked informal and another woman sat at the table, thankfully not Tess.

"Don't be nervous Rose, this is just an informal interview," Alec tried to assure her. "We just want to record what you told me on the phone last night and anything else you have to tell us that may have to do with what happened. Can I get you anything to drink?"

He motioned for Rose to sit opposite and the woman got up when Rose asked for coffee.

"I just want to assure you that you knowing DS Hardy has nothing to do with you being able to give a statement," Alec tried to assure Rose. "If anything you have to say has any bearing on what happened, it will be treated as any other statement and that fact will be left out. Is that okay?" he asked Rose.

"Yeah. Sorry, I'm just a bit nervous," Rose tried to smile. "Anyway, I've only done her hair twice, I took over from my mum. I've not seen her recently."

"That's fine Rose, try not to nervous eh? We'll begin shortly and don't think you are wasting our time. A lot of people hold back for that reason, that something they saw or heard wasn't important enough."

Rose settled back once her drink arrived and Alec asked her about the first time she'd visited Cate Gillespie.

"Well, the first time, it was early and Pippa wasn't there but when Cate called me again, she wanted it later so I could trim Pippa's hair at the same time. Pippa seemed like she didn't want her hair trimming and when I was leaving, she was sitting outside. She'd asked her mother if she could go next door and Cate had told her no."

Rose continued to tell him about her following visit then Alec said they should take a break.

"I was wondering why you actually responded when we were asking for information," Alec admitted. "As I said, a lot of people would not have bothered."

"It got to me, that's all," Rose replied. "I mean when ya found Pippa and I'd spoken to her a few times. She seemed okay on that Friday, even though she was told not to go next door. I think Cate must've fallen out with the woman, she never said. What else do ya wanna know, I should be gettin' home."

"It won't take much longer. We'll go through what you've told us then have it typed up and we'll ask you to come in and read it and sign it," Alec told her. "How are you getting home, do you have a car?" Alec wondered.

"Yeah, hope I don't get a fine," Rose smiled, getting one back since the recording equipment was off. "So I'll need to come back then?"

"It will only take a few minutes, we can make it lunchtime if you wish?" Alec told her as the other officer came back. "We can resume now. You were saying about Pippa, as you were leaving that time?"

"Yeah, poor kid, she seemed sad," Rose told him. "I think I told her there must be a reason why she wasn't allowed to go next door. I couldn't help hearing what her mother was saying, Cate didn't seem to mind that I was there."

"Well if she spoke in front of you, that is not really overhearing," Alec assured her. "What about the next time?"

"Well, Lisa was there, she let me in and she didn't seem all that keen I was there. Maybe that was just me?" Rose wondered. "Then Pippa wanted to go out on her bike. That was the last time I saw her. Do ya know anything about Lisa?" she dared ask.

"Not as yet, I cannot tell you much," Alec regretted to say. "So, they both went off?"

"Yeah, I think I waved to them when I was leaving. I know Lisa was there to look after Pippa while Cate went off. Cate had already told me she was going to a wedding."

"How did you learn that?" Alec wanted to know, wondering if there was anything else she'd not mentioned before. "Rose, the purpose of this interview is to determine how both girls were, before they went missing. You can tell us anything, it will be treated sensitively. You have my word."

"Well I don't know what's important and what isn't," Rose had to admit. "Cate told me when she rang me to make an appointment."

"Right. I suppose she would have mentioned it then?" Alec pondered, knowing how women like to brag about such things. "So you were there a while?"

"Not too long, she wanted it so she could manage her hair the next day, at the wedding. The girls had gone off by then and Cate was chatting about the wedding. I wish I'd spoken more to Pippa and Lisa."

"No-one knew what was going to happen Rose," Alec assured her. "Going next door may not have made any difference whether they had done or not. Is there anything else? Just remember, you cannot speculate as to why the girl's mother warned her against going to the neighbour's house. Until now, we were not aware of the fact, so we have you to thank for that. It gives us a bit more insight of how the girls may have been before they disappeared."

"Yeah, okay, I don't know why but Pippa seemed pretty upset by it. I can't help thinking about it. Sorry. Can I ask something? I mean it won't get back to Cate that I told ya anything, will it?"

"No, you have my word Rose, if we have to question her about it, we will put it to her another way," Alec assured her.

Well he would so he'd have to make it clear to Tess that she didn't put her big foot in it and say it was the hairdresser who given them new information. This was something now that they could work with, another angle to take things forward and something more to question the next door neighbours over.

He'd not liked their attitude so far, especially Lee Ashworth. It was as if they were indifferent and not at all concerned a young girl had died. They'd said nothing about how they got on with the Gillespies, only that they'd not seen either girl the night before. Now, it seemed likely they could have done and were not admitting it.

Girls would be girls and they could have been tempted to visit despite being warned to stay away. Lisa was older and should have been capable of looking after her cousin but maybe they'd had trouble and gone next door for help? He'd have to get someone onto finding out if there were any disturbances on that part of the estate that night.

Now, they may be finally getting somewhere and the young woman waiting to be told she could go could have cracked the case wide open. She had given them more and they'd got enough to keep them going for a while longer. He wondered what they would have done if Rose Tyler hadn't come forward? He now just had to stop Tess from making any more hairdresser's appointments, which could ruin everything if she wasn't careful.

Alec got a call to say they were processing Rose's statement,

"That's all for now, thank you again for coming forward," Alec told her.

"I won't get to know if it did any good, will I?" Rose asked him sadly.

"We can't say but if we make an arrest, think of it as it could be part or all your statement that helped," Alec smiled back.

Chapter 4

Rose heard nothing else from the police so she just assumed they had either not used her information or it was a slow process and they were acting upon it. Did it always take this long, she had wondered. Her mother said nothing about it, like she hadn't expected anything to come of it and she didn't want to tell Rose she'd told her so.

It wasn't an easy task for Alec either, having to put things another way to both Cate Gillespie and the Ashworths so they wouldn't guess where the line of questioning had come from. Nothing had been said to either of them of the loss of the evidence, they now how to depend on Cate's word Pippa had been wearing the pendant that night and if need be, asking Rose if she saw the girl wearing it the day before and he hoped that would be enough.

Lee Ashworth had been released on police bail again and Alec had chewed Tess out for going with Claire to the clinic.

"What else was I supposed to do?" Tess had asked him afterwards. "Would you have been better going with her? Have you seen that witness again?"

"I have had no reason to," Alec told her. "If nothing happens before the court date, I may have to ask her a few more questions though," he admitted.

Tess knew she'd catch him out sooner or later. Alec didn't want to have to involve Rose any more than was necessary, he didn't want to scare her off and if he did need more from her, he hoped she'd be agreeable.

There were now only a few days to the trial and if it didn't collapse on them, Alec thought it would be a small miracle. He'd not informed Rose of any dates but she'd seen it in the local paper.

"You'd better be careful you're not called to give evidence," Jackie had been warning her.

"Mum, why would they need me?" Rose disagreed. "I don't even know if they used anything I told them."

"Well I can't take your clients if you're called to the court at a day's notice," Jackie also warned her. "You'll just have to make up some excuse."

"I know Mum, I'm not gonna just come out with the excuse I've got to give evidence in a murder trial, am I?" Rose replied. "Why did I have to go and hear all that stuff?"

"Well, I suppose someone had to hear what those poor girls said?" Jackie relented. "How were you to know what was gonna happen?"

Rose wondered why her mother had changed her mind all of a sudden.

The first day of the trial was just Lee Ashworth being smug again and pleading not guilty to the charges read out and Alec knew somehow the man was going to get out of it. Should he risk telling them about Rose, that she may be willing to repeat what she'd heard in court? Would it make any difference?

He waited until the proceedings were halted then he waited for the prosecution, who was in a hurry.

"If you want to enter more evidence, you had better say so now," he was told. "I've not got much to work on as it is now."

Alec wondered if that was intended as a dig at him.

"That statement, the one from Rose Tyler? Would it do any good if she appeared in person?"

"Her statement only proves that the youngest girl was worried about something," he was further told. "I suppose if we could prove the Ashworths had something over her, to make her want to keep going back?"

"Well can you make something of it?" Alec wanted to know. "Anything that proves there was more to them than they are letting on?"

"I'll look over Miss Tyler's testimony, to see it there's anything I can use," Jocelyn Knight replied. "Have we met before?" she then asked him.

"Not as far as I know," Alec replied, trying to straighten the knot in his tie.

"You seem familiar somehow. Maybe not then?" she told him. "There may be nothing I can use of Miss Tyler's though," she added. "Not without further questioning why the youngest girl's mother never bothered mentioning anything. Then she'll want to know where it came from."

"I can't let Miss Tyler's name get out unless she is called to give evidence," Alec replied.

"That may not be possible, DI Hardy," he was told. "I noticed she stated the girl and her cousin spoke freely in front of her? It was hardly a secret then?"

"No, I suppose not? Young Pippa also spoke to her mother in front of Miss Tyler," Alec reminded the barrister.

"Very well, I'll see what I can do," Jocelyn told him. "Has anything been done further about the pendant?" she then asked, omitting the fact it was missing.

"We had an idea where it went but could never prove it," Alec replied. "We had no other ideas as to where it could be. We were sure it was being hidden somewhere."

"Well, if it's not given up, you know as well as I do how this is going to end? When the defence ask for the item to be produced, it's going to look bad when I tell them."

"I'm aware of that," Alec replied. "Maybe you should consider calling Cate Gillespie to give evidence Pippa had the item on her that day?"

"The defence will only try to suggest Pippa may have had the item on that morning but could have taken it off at any time during the day. I suppose they will have trouble proving why it was found in the defendant's car afterwards? It may work but only if we can throw the defence off somehow?"

"Then should I warn Miss Tyler she may be called?" he then asked.

"Yes, though try not to tell her why she may have to appear," Ms Knight agreed.

Alec went off and retrieved Rose's mobile number from his phone, wondering why he'd even put it in his contacts.

When Rose's own mobile rang, it made her jump and she excused herself from setting a client's hair.

"I won't be long, it's probably my mum," Rose tried to joke.

"How is Jackie anyway?" the woman asked her.

"She's fine, thanks," Rose assured her.

Alec hadn't realised Rose may not remember the number he'd called her on before, it had been some time.

"Who's that?" Rose wanted to know when she didn't recognise who it was.

"Ah, is that Rose?" Alec asked cautiously. "It's DI Hardy."

Then he could have kicked himself for being so formal and not saying it was Alec.

"Oh. I never thought I'd hear from ya," Rose admitted.

"Sorry, it has been some time. I need your help Rose," he told her.

Rose thought she might have know it wasn't a social call.

"Well, go on then," she replied, hoping he wasn't going to take long. "I'm with a client so make it quick."

Alec thought that he should have known she would be hostile towards him.

"Ah. Well can we meet somewhere in that case?" he dared ask. "I did not mean to make it sound like it was any kind of demand."

"Sorry. It's just I don't normally answer my phone when I'm working," Rose relented.

"If it was not important, I would not have bothered you," Alec apologised, which he didn't do much of these days.

Maybe talking to Rose again had made him soft, he wondered.

"Well, I'm finished after this client," Rose told him.

"Do you know where the Crystal Palace hotel is, just on the way into town?" he asked.

"Yeah, I've seen it," Rose replied. "I can be there around five fifteen?"

"Fine, I will wait inside for you. Rose, I would not be asking to meet with you, were it not important," he assured her.

"Fine, I made a good impression on ya last time then?" she tried to laugh it off.

"I did not mean to make it sound that way," he reassured her. "Ah, that was a joke?" he then realised. "Sorry, it has been a rather difficult day. It was the first day of the hearing and it is already getting to me."

"I'm sorry too, I thought ya'd forgotten all about me," Rose admitted. "I don't even know if ya managed to use anything that I told ya that time."

"Rose, it is not permitted for me to tell you," Alec tried to explain. "I should have made that clear."

Maybe he could have at least contacted her to say it was going to court?

"I think ya did tell me. Anyway, see ya soon?" she replied.

"I hope you are not mad at me in some way?" Alec then asked her.

"No, I'm not mad with ya," Rose replied. "I have to go now or the lady whose hair I'm doing will need more time."

"Right, I should let you go then?" he asked. "I mean until later," he corrected himself since he'd already put his big feet in it.

"Yeah, I get what ya mean," Rose laughed.

Now, that meant calling her mother to say she'd be late back and she had some explaining to do.

Alec thought he'd call back at the station then set off to meet Rose. What had he just inferred to her? That he wouldn't have called her unless it was about the trial and she already thought they'd used nothing of what she'd told them?

They had used some of it, to try to get Lee Ashworth to talk but all he'd done was say Cate would have said anything to get him to confess he was the one who'd killed her daughter. The arrogant man had given nothing else away and he'd just stood up in the courtroom and looked directly at himself and Tess as if to say good luck getting a conviction.

Could he ask Rose to consider standing up in court saying what she'd heard or would the defence shoot her down? The other question was, could he do it to her or let Lee Ashworth walk free.

Rose was getting ready to leave her client, wondering what Alec wanted to talk to her about. She just hoped he really wasn't wanting her to stand up in court and repeat what the two girls had talked about. She made her way to the pub after calling her mother, who had wanted to know why she was going to meet Alec.

"Why has he called ya after all this time?" Rose had been asked.

"I don't know Mum, do I?" Rose had told her. "Maybe he wants me to testify after all?"

"Well, it's a bit late now," Jackie told her.

"I have to hear what he has to say Mum. What if anything goes wrong and the police need my help?"

Rose was now in the car park behind the pub, getting nervous at meeting Alec after all that time. Using the rear entrance, she stood and looked around the large room, seeing Alec in the corner. He got up when he saw her and asked what she was drinking.

"Non-alcoholic," Rose laughed nervously. "Sorry, I know ya not tryin' to catch me out. Just a club orange then, with ice, thanks."

Alec went off and Rose sat next to where Alec had been, hoping he'd sit opposite her. He did when he came back, thinking maybe it would be too much sitting next to her.

"Thank you for meeting me Rose. Please, don't be nervous, it's not another interview," he tried to put her at ease.

"Ya want me to testify, don't ya?" Rose asked him.

"Rose, I asked you here to see if you would consider it, I will be honest with you," Alec replied. "I spoke with the prosecution, she is considering including your statement in the proceedings. I will have to see what she says in the morning."

"What about Cate? Alec, she knows me, she'll think I was spying on her by getting Pippa to talk. She'll say it was just a kid talking. Maybe she'll blame me, for puttin' ideas in Pippa's head?" Rose panicked.

Without thinking, Alec put his hand on hers across the table.

"Try not to worry Rose. Cate may not even be present and besides, the prosecution will put the questions in a way that will not blame you anyway. They will only want to know how the girls were, the day before they went missing," Alec tried to assure her.

"Geez, that's easy for you to say not to worry," Rose told him. "Sorry. Do ya mean I won't have to say anything apart from answer their questions? What if the defence try to trick me?"

"The prosecution will object to it as being irrelevant. Rose, you may not even be allowed to take the stand but I had to ask you, so it was not a shock if you are summoned."

"Well thanks for the warning then," Rose told him. "So, if I am called, I'll get a phone call? What am I supposed to do about my appointments? Mum won't be able to do them. Can I tell them all the reason for cancelling?"

Alec thought she was very practical and she asked all the right questions.

"Just apologise and say the cancellations are beyond your control?" Alec suggested, thinking Rose would be better asking Tess, who was good at putting things off.

"Yeah, I suppose so? At least if I get to know the day before? Will you be there?" Rose asked him.

"Yes, I have given testimony already but no doubt I will be called back," Alec told her. "You will be fine answering a few questions."

"I hope ya right," Rose tried to smile.

"I am, trust me. It could make a lot of difference," he tried to convince her.

He didn't want to say that she may only be asked because of the stupid mistake Tess had made, in her haste to meet Dave.

"I'd better go now, my mum will wonder where I've got to," Rose decided.

"Then I will walk you to your car. Rose, I don't want to put any pressure on you, by asking if you are willing to speak up in court," Alec then told her.

"No, it's okay, really. If that's what it takes, to make sure Pippa's killer gets locked up? There's just one thing though. Will my name be kept out of it? I mean having to face the defendant?"

"I will ask if it can be left out," Alec replied. "I will also ask if how you knew the girls can also be kept out of it but the judge will want to know."

"Yeah, I expect so? Well, I suppose I'll have to be prepared then?"

She got up, Alec also standing and let her through the gap. He indicated for her to go first, then followed her to the exit.

"Can I ask ya something?" Rose wondered as he held the door open for her. "What happened to Tess? I mean she wasn't very friendly before, was she?"

"I am sorry about that Rose. It was nothing to do with you, it was just how she was. We were splitting up at that time, she was angry with everyone," Alec replied, wondering why he was telling her.

"Oh. I didn't mean to pry Alec," Rose apologised.

"No, it's fine. We are in the middle of divorcing, I should not bother you with such things," he tried to smile.

"Well, I hope she's still not hostile towards me then," Rose tried to joke.

"I'm sure she won't be," Alec told her, thinking it would probably make Tess worse if anything.

Tess had inferred a few things when Rose had last been interviewed and he'd not wanted to admit she may be right about Rose Tyler.

Chapter 5

Rose was still confused as she drove home from her meeting with Alec. She was wondering what difference her saying how the girls were just before they disappeared but she supposed it would add to the medical evidence. She thought the police must now be out of options to bring herself into it.

The defendant would see her, even if her name wasn't given out in court and what if the wife still lived next door to Cate? She wasn't even sure of their names, all that had been on the news about an arrest was it had been a neighbour who had been charged with Pippa's death.

She had always wondered what had happened to poor Lisa but at least she might be still alive, if she took off after what happened to her cousin. She got home and Jackie asked how her meeting had gone as they got ready to eat.

"It was strange, after all that time," Rose admitted. "It's a wonder he remembered about me."

"Well, if they're running out of options?" Jackie replied. "What are ya gonna do, if ya have to go to court?"

"Put everyone off I suppose? DI Hardy suggested saying something like something beyond my control came up."

Jackie let out a laugh.

"Well it might work," she had to agree.

"Yeah, ya never know," Rose also laughed.

Alec had gone home, hoping he'd not put Rose off appearing for the prosecution. He just had to hope they could put her in as a witness before the defence had the time to turn her against them but he somehow doubted her head could be turned so easily.

She had seemed genuine enough and she had been concerned about the girls to still think about telling the court what they'd had to say. He doubted Ms Knight would let the defence get their hands on a reliable witness. There was still a slim chance the judge might not let Rose speak anyway.

The next morning, he was summoned to the court and waited until the prosecution had finished speaking with the judge.

"Are you sure the witness is reliable?" she was being asked.

"From what the police say," Jocelyn was defending her decision to bring Rose in at such a late stage. "The girls spoke freely in front of her, she was hardly eavesdropping."

"I do not suppose she was?" the judge pondered. "Still, when the defence get to know about your witness, they may say otherwise. Very well, I will allow you to call this witness Ms Knight but she will have to be questioned by the defence as well."

"I don't see what they can discredit her with," Jocelyn replied.

"Did Cate Gillespie know your witness had spoken to Pippa outside the house?" she was asked.

"That will have to be debated, Your Honour. Cate Gillespie may not remember."

"Yes, we know Mrs Gillespie had a problem back then," the judge had to agree.

Jocelyn thought the woman probably still had a problem, having her only daughter taken from her at such a young age.

Alec was waiting for a decision, then he would have to inform Rose, one way or another. He hoped if her testimony was accepted, she wouldn't back out now. Why couldn't she have been included before, was that his doing for forgetting about her or had he been too busy focussing on getting Lee Ashworth to confess?

Maybe it would have been easier to take more notice of how the girls had been up to the events of the night they disappeared. His boss had wanted a conviction but now, it might all come down to Rose after all. He saw Jocelyn Knight emerge from the Judge's room and stood up.

She motioned for him to sit down and leaving a gap, sat next to him.

"The judge will allow Miss Tyler to speak in court, about what she heard," Jocelyn told him. "She won't back out, will she?"

"I don't think so," Alec tried to be positive. "I will let her know and get a full statement from her."

"Yes, I'll need it before she appears in court," he was told. "It still may make no difference but that's all we have for now, that the defence doesn't know about."

"Won't they question why Miss Tyler was kept from them?" he asked.

"Let's hope not, Inspector," Jocelyn replied. "Are you sure we've not met before?" she asked him again.

"No, I'm sure," Alec told her. "Are you new to the area?"

"I was based in London until recently, I was called to prosecute this case, for some reason," Jocelyn admitted. "The barrister who was supposed to take it had to back out suddenly, family problems, so I was told."

She didn't want to admit that before she had taken this case, she and the other barrister had been involved in a bitter argument and had parted company. It had all come to a head when she'd refused to defend her then junior's son.

She was just glad they'd not ended up in opposite roles but it was inevitable they would cross paths one day. Maybe she should think about retiring back to her home in Dorset after this case was over?

"You don't have long to get Miss Tyler's full statement," Alec was then reminded. "Get it to me as soon as possible so I can go through it."

Rose was waiting for a call and had to stop herself checking for missed calls while she was with her clients. She had just finished her second client's hair when she picked up her phone just as it rang. She excused herself and answered, surprised it was Cate.

"I've been so wrapped up in things, my hair is a complete mess," Cate admitted.

"Well, it's not surprising, with what you're going through," Rose tried to sympathize. "I can maybe squeeze you in later, after my last booking, I'll have to call you back though."

"Well I suppose, with me leaving it late to ask you," Cate had to agree. "I expect you've been following what happened?"

"Yeah, sorry. Pippa was a lovely girl. I expect you're frantic over Lisa still being missing?"

Rose didn't know what else to say, since if Cate was at the court, if she herself had to take the witness stand and tell the jury what she'd heard, Cate wouldn't be pleased. Cate may even wait for her afterwards and confront her. Should she decline to visit Cate?

She'd have to call Alec Hardy and ask him, if he didn't call her first. She got paid from her client and got into her car and was about to set off when her phone rang again.

"Rose?" Alec asked cautiously in case she was with a client. "Can you talk?"

Since her car engine wasn't turned on, she considered it was safe.

"Yeah, it's okay. Did ya get to ask about me going to the court?" she asked nervously.

"Yes. I'm sorry but you will have to appear but first, I need a full statement of what went on. Can you come to the station later?"

"Yeah, I suppose so? Cate Gillespie just called me, she wants me to do her hair. I can't now, can I?" Rose told him.

"I'm afraid not Rose. You will have to give her an excuse. She has not been present in court but she will get to know that you gave evidence. It may not be pleasant for you if she does find out."

"Yeah, I guessed that, thanks," Rose tried to joke. "I'll be at the station as soon as I can, will you be there? I get a feeling that Tess doesn't think much of me now."

"I would not know that," he replied. "I will make sure I am there. Also, you will have to see the prosecution barrister before you appear in court. She will have more questions for you and to go through the procedure."

"Yeah, okay. Do ya know when that will be?" Rose asked.

"Probably on Monday now, the judge may adjourn the case until then, pending new evidence. Rose, try not to worry until then," he replied.

Rose waited an hour then called Cate back.

"Sorry Cate, I can't make it later. Maybe my mum can fit ya in?" Rose offered.

"It doesn't matter about it being today," Cate told her.

"I'll get mum to call ya, I'm a bit full up at the moment," Rose replied, hoping it would put Cate off.

"Well, if you don't have time for me?" Cate seemed offended.

"It's just a really busy time for me at the moment," Rose tried to tell her.

"No Rose, you said you could fit me in tonight, then you call back and try to get out of it," Cate told her.

"It's not like that Cate," Rose replied.

"I don't need excuses Rose," Cate huffed. "Oh, don't tell me the police found out you were my hairdresser and want you to testify at the trial? What is it that you know? That I complained I didn't like Claire doing my hair? You were talking to Pippa one night, she was outside and I saw you driving off. What did she tell you? Why are the police interested all of a sudden?"

Rose wished Cate would give her chance to reply.

"Cate, it's not like that, really," Rose tried again to tell her. "Yes, I spoke to Pippa but it was nothing."

"Don't bother Rose, I'll find out if I go to the court and you're there," Cate sounded angry.

With that, Cate had hung up and Rose stared at her phone. She would have to say something when she went back to give another statement. So much for Alec telling her not to worry. She sent a message to her mother, saying she'd be late home again and tried to get back to work.

Finally, she parked outside the police station and went inside, asking for Alec. Tess was passing near the front desk and saw her.

"What are you doing here Rose?" Tess wanted to know.

"I have to give another statement," Rose told her.

"Are you still doing Cate's hair?" Tess asked.

"No, not after what happened," Rose replied, not wanting to say she'd spoken to Cate earlier.

"So you've not seen her?" Tess then asked,

Rose wondered if she was already being interviewed.

"I'm waiting to speak to your husband," Rose finally told her.

"He's no longer that Rose," Tess admitted. "I'll leave you to it then."

Rose wondered what that was supposed to mean. Tess went off and caught Alec coming out of his office when he'd got a call to say Rose was waiting for him.

"What's going on with Rose Tyler?" Tess wanted to know.

"Really Tess? You expect me to tell you everything?" Alec replied.

"Why do you need to see her?" Tess insisted on knowing. "I wasn't aware anything came of her statement?"

"In case you had not noticed Tess, things are not going well convicting Lee Ashworth," he reminded her.

"Then we need something else," Tess stated the obvious. "Preferably not someone who heard the girls talking."

"Then get me something else Tess. Is there anything you might have missed?" he wanted to make sure. "What did he do the last time he was out?"

"I'll try and check with Claire, if she knows," Tess gave in.

"She knows more than she's telling us," Alec reminded her. "She has to be involved in some way."

"We already know that Alec, it's proving it," Tess replied. "Well, you'd best go see what Rose Tyler has to tell us. Want me to go with you?"

"I can manage, get on to Claire again and call Cate. Rose said she was asked to call and do her hair but she has had to put it off to come here. Don't mention that to Cate though, otherwise she may accuse us of spying on her."

"She may already think that if Rose refused to go see her," Tess told him.

Rose was wondering what was going on as she waited for Alec. Had he changed his mind about getting her to tell him everything she heard? She looked up a few minutes later as he approached her.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, this way," he apologised.

She was already nervous and keeping her waiting hadn't done her any good, he thought.

"I wondered what had happened. I saw Tess when I came in," Rose admitted.

"We were just having a discussion, I apologise," Alec replied. "Did Cate Gillespie have much to say when you cancelled on her?"

"Ya could say that," Rose admitted. "She knows I talked to Pippa that evening when I was leaving."

"Tess is going to talk to her. Hopefully, Cate won't think you were sent to spy on her."

"Geez, she sounded pretty upset when I called her back," Rose further admitted as Alec indicated for her to sit opposite.

"The case is getting to everyone Rose," Alec assured her. "It does not seem to be progressing as we planned. That's why something you may have heard may have a bearing on what happened that night. If you saw both girls the night before, then you are one of the last people to have done so."

"I didn't think it was gonna be the last time I spoke to them," Rose told him sadly.

"I know Rose, I am sorry to have to make you go through it all again. Trust me, if there was another way, we would be taking it. Tess will try to smooth things over with Cate. What exactly did she say?"

"Just I was spying on her and the girls I suppose," Rose began to tell him. "When I said I had to cancel, she wasn't very happy. I told her I was really busy and that my mum might be able to fit her in."

"What did Cate have to say to that?" he asked her, writing something down.

"That's when she said you were sending me to spy on her. She said she'd find out if I appeared in court. How can I stand there and say what Pippa told me that time I was leaving? I don't think Pippa wanted me to tell anyone."

"I'm sorry Rose but how Pippa was in the time leading up to her going missing can count for a lot. If it had not been you she talked to, she may have kept it to herself," he reminded her. "Now, apart from what you already told us, is there anything else you remember. What about the Friday evening?"

"Well, Lisa let me in then Pippa was saying she wanted to go out on her bike," Rose recalled.

"Did Lisa seem keen to take her cousin out?" he asked.

"I suppose so?" Rose tried to remember.

"What about Cate? Did she seem to trust Lisa to take Pippa out?" Alec wondered.

"I think so? She just carried on when they left," Rose told him.

She was asked a few more questions but she didn't think there was anything new to add, until Alec reminded her of something.

"Did I tell ya that Cate told Lisa not to go next door?" Rose asked.

Alec looked through her statement.

"Did she now?" he shook his head. "I wonder why? They must have been talking before you arrived then?"

"She'd told Pippa that before, when I was there and did Pippa's hair as well. Pippa wanted the neighbour, Claire to do it," Rose recalled.

So, Cate's reluctance to let Pippa go next door must go deeper, he wondered.

Chapter 6

How much deeper did it actually go? Did Cate Gillespie think something disturbing had been going on when the two girls went next door? Surely Lisa had more sense than dragging her younger cousin into something? Alec looked up from Rose's statement.

"Sorry. Rose, I know it seems we are going over things but we must get it right," he told her. "It pieces together how Cate was reluctant to let Pippa go next door, so we can eliminate certain factors."

"Geez, I thought ya were gonna say the neighbours are the only suspects," Rose laughed nervously. "Oh, ya do?" she saw the look on Alec's face. "So the papers were right? That makes a change."

"I can't say anything," Alec replied. "I can't influence your side of the story. I can't make it look like any particular person or persons are suspects, only that we have someone under suspicion who are facing a trial. Rose, you cannot tell anyone else what you have told us so far. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, I get it. Was there anything else? I should be gettin' home," Rose told him.

"Yes, of course," Alec replied, getting up after putting her statement in a folder when she had signed it. "Try not to worry about going to court."

He couldn't tell her that if the Ashworths slipped up, they wouldn't be walking free, that was if he could get Tess to trip Claire up. He thought he'd best not make any promises to her.

"Rose, you will be notified when you have to appear but Cate Gillespie may decide to stay away so don't worry too much about facing her," Alec advised her.

"I just don't want her to think I was gonna do her hair for her to get more information," Rose told him.

"Don't worry about that eh? Just concentrate on what you are asked in court and don't let either side get you to say anything that was not true," he warned her.

"Ya mean they'd try?" Rose was now worried.

"Sorry. You have to be prepared," he apologised.

"Yeah, I know. I just watch too much TV," Rose tried to laugh it off.

"Rose, I have to ask you again. Did you leave anything out? Even the slightest thing?" he wondered.

He'd had a feeling she was holding something back but he didn't want her to say anything that wasn't true. The defence would surely try and put words in her mouth as it was.

"No, I already told ya everything, honestly. Do ya think I'd keep something back and let whoever killed Pippa walk free?" Rose replied.

Alec shook his head and got up, going to sit next to her.

"I was not implying that Rose," he assured her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

Rose tried to shrug it off but Alec persisted.

"Sorry, I'm all on edge," Rose apologised. "Geez, I've still got to appear in court yet."

"You will be fine. Are you in a hurry to get home?" he dared ask. "I just wondered if you would like to go for a drink and something to eat, for me keeping you out."

"Is it allowed? I mean I know we met before but that was before ya said I'd actually be standing up in front of the judge," she asked nervously.

"It's only a drink Rose," he tried to laugh it off. "It's not like I am going to ask you to lie in court."

"I know ya wouldn't Alec. I'll have to call my mum and tell her I'll be a bit late," Rose gave in.

"Fine. Shall we meet where we did the last time?" he suggested.

He got up and held her chair and Rose took his offered arm to help her. He knew she might take it the wrong way but she'd not yet slapped him and told him he was getting too friendly. He had to know if she was holding something back, it could be crucial to convicting Lee Ashworth.

While Alec went back to get his jacket and close his laptop, he noticed Tess was missing, thankfully. Rose had gone back to her car and called her mother.

"Blimey Rose, should ya be thinking of going off to meet him, the detective in charge?" Jackie asked her.

"It's fine Mum, we met before, remember?" Rose replied. "How many times do I get to go out? At least you get out a bit."

"Ya call going to bingo going out?" Jackie laughed. "Ya could come with us."

"No thanks Mum," Rose laughed back. "I won't be out that long anyway."

"You be careful Rose, even if he is a police detective," her mother warned her.

While Alec had been interviewing Rose, Tess had reluctantly gone to see Cate.

"Oh, it's you Tess," Cate said when she answered the door. "I though the hairdresser still had the nerve to visit."

"Why, what about the hairdresser?" Tess wondered.

"You should know Tess, you and that husband of yours were sending her to spy on me," Cate replied, going into the lounge and pouring more wine.

"He's no longer my husband Cate," Tess corrected her. "Well he won't be. What happened?"

"Don't pretend you don't know Tess?" Cate laughed. "I asked her to call round and after an hour of leaving her to fit me in, she calls me back and says she's busy. Then she has the nerve to suggest her mother comes instead."

So Cate did have Rose as her hairdresser? She had never been able to be certain.

"It was nothing to do with us Cate, why would it be?" Tess wanted to know.

"I saw her leaving one night when Pippa was outside. Goodness knows what Pippa told her," Cate admitted.

"Why would Pippa tell the hairdresser anything Cate?" Tess wondered.

"Pippa was always getting Claire to do her hair, without asking me first," Cate told her. "I used to go crazy with her."

"My daughter's always at a friend's house and they mess around with each other's hair," Tess admitted. "That's teenagers for you. Anyway, how are you coping Cate?"

Rose was waiting in the car park of the pub for a few minutes before Alec arrived. She still wondered if it was such a good idea to be seen again with him or not but if it got a free meal out of him, she supposed it wouldn't do much harm.

They got a table in the corner by the window and waited for their meals to arrive.

"Can we forget about the case for a while?" Rose asked as she sipped on her drink.

"That would be a good idea," he smiled. "So, what brought you and your mother to Sandbrook then?"

"Just a change. I think mum realised she'd been living on the same estate since she'd got married and it was time to get out," Rose began to tell him. "She insisted I went to hairdressing college then decided to expand. Can I tell ya something? I mean ya can tell me to mind my own business but it's about when I first went to see Tess."

"It makes no difference to me what she told you Rose. We are on the verge of divorce and have been for some time," he admitted.

"Sorry. It's just she wanted a different hairstyle, like she was tryin' to impress somebody. She was, wasn't she? She'd not told ya she was gettin' her hair done, had she?"

"No and I apologise for seeming off with you. It wasn't your fault Rose," he told her, putting his hand on hers. "The truth is Rose, she was seeing someone, behind my back and it was him she was trying to impress."

"I feel really bad about it now Alec," Rose admitted as he moved his hand when the waitress approached.

It was one thing having a meal with Rose but he didn't want anyone getting the wrong idea, were he to be in the news again.

"Don't feel bad Rose, you were not to know," he tried to assure her.

Rose thought that was easy for him to say. She did feel bad about it, though she'd had no idea what Tess had been up to at the time.

"Alec, let's change the subject," Rose suggested. "How's your daughter doing? I mean if you and Tess split up?"

"She's old enough to understand Tess and I don't get on any more," Alec smiled. "I think she will understand I am not going back home. You made it sound like your father was no longer around. What happened Rose?"

"He died, when I was only six months old. He was knocked down by a car when he was on his way to a wedding," Rose explained. "It still makes me sad, mum said it was too late when she'd seen what had happened. No-one was with him."

"I'm sorry Rose. Maybe if you could go back, you could have been with him eh?" Alec smiled.

"Thanks, that's a nice thought Alec," Rose agreed. "Got a time machine have ya?"

"No but if I did have one, I would gladly take you back," he replied.

Rose didn't know what to say. He was really nice and she hated how Tess had been treating him. She had wondered where he was on the other few visits she paid to do Tess's hair. Had she known Tess was messing around with another man, she wouldn't have made such a good job of it.

"I hope my asking you out did not give you the wrong idea?" he then asked her.

"As long as ya don't get into trouble Alec," Rose told him.

"If I do, it will be from the prosecution barrister, she's a bit harsh," Alec joked. "She seems to think she knows me from somewhere."

"Maybe she has ya mixed up with someone else?" Rose suggested as they finished eating and Rose went for the dessert menu, making Alec smile.

"Maybe we meet again in the future?" he went along with it.

"Yeah, sure ya don't have a time machine stashed away somewhere?" Rose laughed.

"Maybe I should have, then I would already know what dessert you are going to order? Let me guess? Something with bananas perhaps?"

"Geez, that's uncanny Alec," Rose was still laughing.

Alec went back to the bar, taking Rose's empty glass but not sure she should be having another drink. He had only been drinking a low alcohol lager that hardly had any taste to it but it was all he dared have, if he now had to worry about getting Rose home.

Maybe he could offer to drive her home then get a taxi back for his own car, if she didn't live too far away? Would that be too much? He just didn't want her to take it the wrong way, he was just making sure she didn't get stopped on her way home.

They talked some more, until Rose said she really must be getting home.

"Rose, I don't want you to get stopped on your way home. Are you sure you will be okay to drive?" he wanted to know.

"I'm fine Alec, really," Rose insisted.

That was until she got outside and Alec steadied her as she went down the step.

"Maybe I should get my mum to come and rescue me?" Rose then laughed, leaning on his arm.

"Well, I could drive you home, then get a cab to pick up my car?" Alec suggested.

"I don't want to put you to any trouble Alec," Rose smiled as he didn't object to her still holding his arm as they walked to her car.

He suddenly stopped.

"Rose, I just had an idea. Let me take you home, then I have to call the station. What was your address again?"

"What did ya think of?" Rose wanted to know as she got her car key out of her purse. "Can ya talk about it?"

Who else did he have to talk to who he could trust?

"The day Pippa died, before her parents went off, she was wearing a pendant but it was missing when she was found a few days later. We searched everywhere for it, even the house next door. We are trying to prove she was killed by the man next door but we can't prove it as he won't talk."

"That's why ya need me?" Rose asked. "To say Pippa was warned not to go next door. Her mum knew something wasn't right, didn't she?"

"We think so," Alec admitted as he opened the passenger door for her.

Rose reluctantly got in, thinking she was now clear-headed enough to drive but she didn't want to argue with him.

"So, ya think the girls still went next door? Maybe Lisa fancied the bloke who lived there? Me and my mate Shareen used to skip classes and sneak to the shopping centre to watch the boys," Rose laughed.

"I just bet you did," Alec smiled as he looked to insert the key then moved the seat back, getting a frown from Rose.

"If the girls did go next door, her pendant must have come off somewhere?" Rose wondered as Alec drove off, hoping he wouldn't get fined for leaving his own car.

He knew where Rose's apartment was, it was only about ten minutes away.

"Yes, we thought it would be in the house but what if was in a car?" Alec asked her. "Pippa was taken to the woods, she must have been in the car and it came off in it. Why did I not think of it before? That's why I have to call the station, to get a search warrant for the neighbour's car. We don't as yet know if his wife is still there and she may not let us near the car anyway."

"I hope ya right Alec," Rose told him as they neared her street. "I mean if ya find the pendant in it, ya have them."

"Yes, we do Rose but we are still going to need you if they won't accept that's enough," he assured her.

"I wanted to help Alec, I'm just glad I was contacted again," Rose admitted.

Alec pulled into the driveway of the apartment block and Rose indicated her parking space.

"Maybe ya should pick your car up first?" she then giggled. "Thanks for bringing me home but I would have been okay to drive."

"Maybe but I encouraged you to have another drink," he reminded her. "Maybe I also wanted to know where you lived?"

"Yeah?" Rose laughed.

"Well, I would not have got the idea of the pendant in the car had I not been helping you in," he wondered. "If Pippa had been carried into the back seat where no-one could see her, the pendant could have caught on something. You can bet whoever was carrying her would never had noticed."

"Yeah and if they didn't know it had come off, they wouldn't have cleaned the car out, would they?" Rose suggested.

"Rose, you have to promise not to say anything," Alec then insisted.

"Aw, don't worry about that," Rose smiled. "So, do ya have a taxi number?"

"Ah, not that I use them much but yes, thank you. Here, let me help you out?" he offered.

He went around the other side and Rose was praying her mother wasn't looking out of the window. Rose allowed him to help her but held onto his arm.

"Thanks for the meal Alec," she told him.

"My pleasure Rose. So, do you go out much at all?" he dared ask her.

"Not really. I've not made a lot of friends since I've been here. It was nice to get out for a change. Thanks again."

She reached over and kissed his cheek, Alec putting his hand on her cheek. He was telling himself not to be an idiot and to tell her he was starting to really like her.

"I hope ya find the pendant Alec. Pippa didn't deserve to die that way. She was left in the woods did ya say?"

Alec nodded, going to kiss her cheek and holding her hair back with his fingers.

"The river carried her downstream after the heavy rain, she was spotted three days after she disappeared."

"It was you that found her?" Rose guessed.

"Yes, I went in to get her," he confirmed. "Do you know what that does to someone Rose?"

"I can't even imagine," Rose had to admit.

She just let him run his finger over her cheek but then rested her head on his shoulder.

"I should get back and retrieve my car," he then remembered.

Rose tried to look up at him, her arms now pinned down.

"Yeah, ya don't wanna let it be towed away," she agreed, trying not to shiver.

"Goodnight then Rose, I will let you get home," he noticed her shivering but it wasn't from the cold and they both knew it.

"Yeah, night then and thanks again for bringing me home Alec. Mum will probably give me a lecture and say I should have called her," Rose replied.

"Then tell her there was really no need," Alec insisted. "Do I make you feel awkward?" he then realised.

"No but what about me being a witness?" she then asked.

"Rose, we don't yet know if you will even be called. If we can find the pendant, there may be no need," he assured her. "Let me worry about that eh?"

He let her move slightly then he leaned down to try and kiss her. Rose resisted at first but went to kiss him back when he tried again. What were the chances she'd even get called to give evidence, she wondered as they kissed again. They may only read it out in court, it still may not be enough to convict Lee Ashworth.

Alec thought the man was too sure of himself and would trip himself up in the end but it would be better if they found the pendant either in the house or as Rose had said maybe it had come off in their car. First thing tomorrow, he was going to apply for a search warrant for the car and hope they were right. If they did it with no warning, the Ashworths wouldn't have time to remove it if was indeed there.

He was pretty sure he was right and he had Rose to thank for the idea. He let her go and she was about to go off.

"Rose. Would you like to go out properly tomorrow night?" he dared ask her. "If we find that pendant, I will have you to thank and we can celebrate?"

"Well, if ya sure it's okay?" she was still in doubt.

"Don't worry so much eh?" he told her again. "I will say I suddenly had the idea about the car, I won't involve you in any way, I promise."

Chapter 7

Alec reluctantly let her go, hoping they hadn't been seen or there would be trouble for him in the morning if he had been recognised.

"Maybe I should call for you tomorrow night?" Alec suggested.

"Yeah, maybe? Night then," Rose replied.

He watched her go inside, tempted to delay her further but by this time, her mother may get suspicious and be looking out of the window. He hoped Rose wouldn't get questioned too much when she got inside. He called for a cab and was soon picking up his car, which thankfully hadn't been towed away or clamped.

He drove to the police station and made the sergeant jump when he appeared at the front desk.

"Thought you'd gone home Sir?" Alec was asked.

"I had a idea and thought I would deal with it in person," Alec told him, trying to keep Rose out of it. "First thing tomorrow morning, I want a search warrant for the Ashworth's car."

"I thought we were through with searching their property Sir?" the sergeant seemed surprised.

Alec thought it would have been if someone had bothered including the car in the first search warrant. Had he really expected the couple to willingly let them search something extra?

"Right, I'll pass it on then," the desk sergeant told him. "Shall I pass it to DS Hardy?"

"Just pass it to any DS," Alec replied, not wanting any mistakes.

He'd have to take both Tess and Dave with him, they were the senior officers on the case.

"Right you are Sir," was the reply. "Anything else?"

"No, I'll leave it with you," Alec told him.

He finally went home, thinking about when he had left Rose outside her apartment. Had he made a bad move by kissing her? He just hoped they'd find the necklace tomorrow or it would be down to her, then they could show no signs something had given between them.

Rose had got inside, praying her mother hadn't been spying on her through the window.

"Rose, thought ya said ya weren't gonna be late back?" Jackie asked her. "Have you been drinking? What did ya do about gettin' home? Ya had better not have been drivin'?"

"Mum, stop it. I got home okay, I'm not that bad. I just had a drink with the meal," Rose protested. "I'm not that late anyway."

"Well, I still think ya made a mistake going out with that detective," her mother reminded her.

"Mum, he said I may not even have to testify," Rose admitted, remembering what Alec had told her. "They could decide against it."

"Well, if whoever did it just admitted it, they wouldn't need ya, would they?" Jackie joked.

Rose wished it was only that simple. She was about to go to her room when her phone buzzed. When she brought it out of her pocket, she saw it was Alec, who wanted to make sure she had recovered.

"Rose. Feeling better now?" he asked her.

"Yeah, I'm fine but thanks for saving me gettin' stopped on the way home," Rose laughed as she closed the door.

"Ah, well. I could hardly let you get stopped, could I?" he replied. "You do know that if we find the pendant tomorrow in the suspect's car, we probably won't need you to testify?"

"Yeah, that'll be a relief," Rose admitted.

"Did I make you feel uncomfortable earlier?" he wondered.

"Well, maybe a little at first but then, I was okay," she told him. "I didn't say anything to my mum, about you bringing me home."

"Maybe it's best we keep quiet for now?" he suggested.

"Yeah, I don't want ya to get into trouble," Rose agreed. "See ya tomorrow then?"

"Yes, I will pick you up, if you still want to go?" he wanted to make sure she would still want to go.

"I hope we can celebrate then," Rose replied.

The next day, Alec got to work early and had left word that as soon as the warrant was ready, he was to be informed. Tess wasn't happy when she found out what he'd arranged the night before.

"You came back to organise a search warrant for the Ashworth's car?" she confronted him.

"Tess, that pendant has to be somewhere," Alec reminded her. "You never had any luck yesterday, did you?"

"I didn't see Claire," Tess had to admit.

Alec just shook his head and indicated she was to leave.

"You and Dave can come with me, to search the car," he then told her.

"There wasn't a car there yesterday, though Claire could have taken it to work with her," Tess replied.

"Why did you not say anything?" Alec wanted to know. "Now we have to find it before the warrant comes through."

"Fine, I'll call her but she may be evasive," Tess suggested.

"Just tell her you called yesterday but the car wasn't there, then see what she says," Alec replied.

Why did he have to do the thinking for her?

"What if she wants to be there when we search it?" Tess than asked.

"Fine but she stays out of the way," Alec relented.

Tess went off to call Claire but wasn't surprised when Claire answered and said she'd sold the car.

"Why do you want to know?" Claire asked her.

"We need to look at it, I can't say why," was all Tess could tell Claire. "Tell me where it is."

Claire reluctantly told Tess where the car was but technically, it was no longer theirs and if they found anything, it may not be admissible in court. She went back to tell Alec.

"When did she sell it?" he wanted to know.

"Yesterday," Tess replied. "If anyone has touched it, you know we can't use whatever we find in it."

"Let me worry about that," Alec replied. "Has the warrant arrived?"

"Just now. Are we going right away before the car's covered in fingerprints?" Tess asked him.

They went off after Tess arranged for forensics to meet them at the car lot. Dave served the warrant to the annoyed car lot owner, who was worried customers would stay away.

"You'd better not take long," the man called to Alec as the car was being located, which he thought was lucky it wasn't already for sale and at the front of the lot.

"How many people have touched the car since it arrived?" Alec wanted to know, ignoring the man's remark.

"No-one, it came in late so I had to find somewhere for it. If I'd not known the man, I would never had accepted it so late but his wife insisted they needed the money. Don't know why he couldn't have come himself," the owner complained.

Lee Ashworth's name had not been in the papers yet, thankfully.

"Why do you want to search it anyway?" the man continued with his grudges.

"It's a police matter," was all Alec was willing to say.

He now wished they'd not had to wait for forensics to turn up, it was getting on for lunchtime and he wanted to call Rose while she was taking a break.

When Claire had taken the car to sell the night before, she had been unaware that Lee had been careless and left the pendant in the glove compartment. He'd found it on the back seat after taking and leaving Pippa in the woods and hoped Claire wouldn't find it.

That morning though, she'd called Lee, who was still being detained.

"What now Claire?" Lee asked her when he was told he had a call.

"I sold the car," she told him.

"What for?" Lee sounded annoyed.

He had forgotten all about the pendant, since it had never been mentioned during his questioning. Then, he suddenly realised.

"Claire, did you take everything out?" he wanted to know.

"Of course I did, I'm not stupid Lee," Claire insisted.

Lee wondered at her sometimes.

"Including the glove compartment?" he asked, wondering if she'd found the pendant, which he knew she'd given to the girl to wear.

"Yes Lee. Why, was I supposed to find something?" she wondered what he was inferring.

He made sure no-one was around before admitting anything.

"That pendant you gave to Pippa," he started to tell her.

"What about it Lee? She was wearing it that night," Claire suddenly realised. "Tell me she was still wearing it when you went off with her?"

"It came off," he had to admit.

"You stupid idiot. Don't tell me you put it in the glove box?"

"Where else was I supposed to put it Claire?" he asked her. "So it's still in there?"

"The light doesn't work in the glove box Lee, how was I supposed to see it? Tess called me this morning," she thought she'd best tell him.

"So? What did she want now? Has her husband got even more questions?" Lee mused.

"She said she called round yesterday and asked where the car was," Claire started to tell him.

"You told her where it was?" Lee got angry.

"I had to, what was I supposed to do?" she replied.

"You'd better see if you can catch them before they start searching," he told her.

"Oh yeah and what am I supposed to do if they found it?" Claire wanted to know.

"Claire, they'll know Pippa was in the car, since Cate would know Pippa was wearing it," Lee replied. "Whatever it takes, get it back."

Well, if he wanted the pendant so badly, he must have been stupid enough to toss it when the police would easily find it, Claire concluded. She had to go open the salon, make sure everyone knew what they were doing then get to the car lot, on the outskirts of the town and just hope the police had been delayed getting a search warrant.

She vaguely knew the owner, which was why she'd been able to sell the car but not well enough to call and tell him to stall the police, if she couldn't get there early enough. Then she had to make up an excuse she'd left something of value in the car and hoped he'd fall for it.

At the car lot, the search was going ahead after forensics made sure no other fingerprints were on it apart from the Ashworths and the lot owner, which Alec wished the man hadn't touched it but at least no-one else had. He was the one who found the pendant in the glove box, thinking Lee Ashworth had been careless tossing it in there when it must have fallen off Pippa, either putting her in or taking her out.

Either way, it made his skin crawl thinking about it. It was bad enough not being certain how the poor girl had died but it hadn't been from drowning, the pathologist suspected suffocation while the girl had slept but had something else caused her to sleep so easily that a pillow or cushion could be placed over her face?

He held the pendant on the end of a pen he had picked it up with, since it was so delicate.

"See if there's anything else we can use to say Pippa was in here," he called out to Tess and Dave, Tess in the back seat and Dave in the back of the car, searching under the wheel arch.

"What else could there be Alec?" Tess sounded annoyed.

"Keep going, the more we have, the better," Alec replied.

He placed the pendant in an evidence bag a uniformed officer handed to him and he filled out the details and made sure he hadn't missed anything. They didn't know they were being observed from the back of the crowd that had gathered. Alec looked up and saw the gathering.

"Get those people out of here," he told the officer next to him, wondering when they had all appeared.

He didn't notice Claire protesting as the crowd was being moved back.

"But I left something in a car I just sold," she was telling the officer.

"Sorry Miss, no-one's allowed in there, this is a police matter," the officer replied. "You will have to wait."

Claire had doubted Tess had missed anything but then noticed Alec was handing a plastic bag to her. Of course it had to be him that had found it, the pendant she had let Pippa wear. She should have noticed it that night while she was comforting the girl, who had been upset about her cousin.

Once she had given the girl the drug Ricky had in the flask, there had been no going back but she'd had to force Lee to finish it. Then she'd had to lie to Ricky and get him to keep quiet about it. He must have been used to lying if he'd fooled Cate and the police ever since.

Alec was on the phone to the prosecution while Tess and Dave were finishing up and getting more details from the car lot owner.

"You have physical evidence?" Alec was being asked by Ms Knight's junior.

"Yes, we just have to take it for testing first. We found it in the suspect's car so it wasn't in the water with the girl," Alec replied.

"Hold on while I inform Ms Knight, I think she may want to talk to you," he was asked.

While he waited, he called Tess over.

"Take this back with you and see it gets to the forensic's lab right away. I'm waiting to talk to the prosecution. Hopefully, it will now save Rose Tyler giving testimony."

"Be careful Alec, you're getting far too close to her you know?" Tess reminded him. "You don't think what she saw and heard is enough do you?" she laughed.

"Stop it Tess. Just sign the evidence bag that it was handed to you before you leave. Better still, do it now," he then insisted, just in case she 'accidentally' forget.

"Really Alec, you don't trust me," Tess huffed.

He ignored her, made sure she was signing for it as he heard Ms Knight called his name.

"Sorry, I was making sure the evidence was on its way back to the station," he apologised.

"Well it had better get there," he was told. "Then I can inform the judge we have solid evidence the girl was in the suspect's car. Otherwise, it will be down to Miss Tyler. Are you sure she's up to it?"

"As best I can be. She is nervous, as anyone else would be under the circumstances," he admitted.

"As long as she tells the truth, she has nothing to worry about," was the reply.

Alec thought it was easy for her to say, she was used to being in court, Rose wasn't. Once the pendant had been examined, he could give Rose the good news and he wouldn't have to keep his feelings for her in check. What he didn't know was that Dave was trying to encourage Tess to stop off on the way back with the evidence.

"Come on Tess, we can call for lunch on the way back then have some time in the back of the car," Dave laughed.

"Alec will go mad if we're late back," Tess told him.

"Since when did you care?" Dave laughed some more. "Meet me at the usual place, no-one parks at the back of the car park at lunchtime."

Tess agreed, seeing Alec was still on the phone and drove off but Claire had still been watching, seeing Tess and Dave talking. Was Tess having an affair, she wondered. If so, she bet they were arranging to meet somewhere. She stopped a passing taxi and told them the name of a nearby pub and hoped she'd get the right one.

Alec was now calling Rose as he saw Tess get in her car. He just hoped he could trust her but the sooner the pendant was tested the better.

"Watcha," Rose greeted him as she was leaving a house.

"Rose. We were right," he told her.

"That's great Alec," Rose replied, being able to tell what he meant.

"We should be certain by the end of the day, when tests have been done. I've informed the court," he explained.

"So I won't get called?" Rose wanted to make sure. "It's okay if they still want me Alec, I still want to help put Pippa's killer away."

That was what he liked so much about her, she was still willing to help.

"I know you do," he told her. "I have to go, I will see you later."

He wished he had the time to meet her somewhere but he needed to call and get something for a late lunch and Rose probably couldn't spare the time anyway. He got back to the station, seeing both Tess and Dave were missing. As long as the pendant had been handed in, he wasn't really bothered any more, Tess would soon be free to do whatever she wanted without trying to hide it and so would he.

Rose had given him the push to hurry things through to end his marriage though he supposed Tess would have gone for it sooner or later.

Tess and Dave were about to go to his car when they had to pass hers, Dave noticing something odd about it.

"Tess, did you leave the driver's window open?" he asked her.

"No, why would I Dave?" she replied, getting closer.

"Tess, it's not open, it's been smashed," he now saw.

"What?" Tess was surprised, since they'd been going there for a while and never had any trouble.

"Tess, tell me the evidence is in your purse?" Dave looked at her. He saw the look on her face. "Don't tell me. Alec is going to go crazy with you."

"Don't blame it all on me Dave. It was your idea to meet here," Tess wasn't about to take all the blame. "You were in a hurry to start kissing when I arrived."

They both peered into the car, her work bag laid on the back seat and things scattered around.

"They took my work phone and coin purse," she turned to Dave.

"I can see that Tess. So, where's the evidence bag?" he asked her.

"Someone took it then," Tess had to admit. "I'd better call it in, just say my car window was smashed."

"You know you'll be asked about the evidence bag," Dave reminded her.

"I can't face him yet, he'll just have to find out when we get back," Tess replied.

"Hey, hold on a minute Tess," Dave objected. "You can't say I was with you."

"Well I wouldn't have stopped on my own," Tess replied. "Well okay, I'll say I called you out and you got here before forensics and uniformed officers then."

"You'd better hope he falls for it Tess," Dave told her as Tess prepared to call it in.

"He's too sure that the evidence being found will get Rose Tyler off the hook of testifying," Tess laughed.

"You mean he's seeing her behind your back Tess?" Dave laughed with her.

"Don't be so stupid Dave, of course he is," Tess tried to be serious as the phone was answered. "This is DS Henchard. My car had just been broken into, get someone out to me right away, I've called DS Harris. Don't let DI Hardy know, I'll call him myself," she told the desk sergeant.

"Very well Ma'am, tell me where you are," the desk sergeant replied.

He knew they'd been out to gather evidence but he couldn't tell if it had been handed in or not. That was up to the officers in charge to handle.

Claire was pleased with herself that Tess had been careless leaving her bag behind and even better, the pendant. She'd made sure no-one had seen her and had run back to the main road to catch another cab back to the salon. She'd told her deputy she had some personal stuff to attend to and hoped the police wouldn't ask any questions.

Chapter 8

Tess and Dave finally got back to the station, Tess's car on the back of a tow truck and taken to the police garage. Alec saw them standing talking and went out to see what had taken them so long.

"What took you two so long?" he asked them both.

"Don't start Alec," Tess warned him, Dave wondering how she dare talk to him like that at work. "I've had enough."

"What does that mean?" he wanted to know, raising his eyebrows.

"I had to go back for her," Dave spoke up. "Tell him Tess."

Tess looked at him as if to say thanks for dropping her right in it.

"I had to stop on the way back to use the ladies room at a pub I was passing," Tess looked at him. "When I came out, my car windows had been smashed."

"What?" Alec erupted, making everyone turn towards him. "In my office, both of you."

They followed him inside, Dave whispering to Tess when he grabbed her arm to hold her back.

"What are you going to tell him?" Dave wondered what she was up to.

"Just go along with it Dave," she told him.

Dave wasn't happy about it as he went in after her, leaning on the door instead of sitting beside her.

"You did what Tess?" Alec was asking her.

"What do you expect? How was I to know there was someone hanging around?" she replied. "I called it in then called Dave back. Tell him Dave."

"It's true, her car window was smashed when I got back," Dave agreed, thinking she owed him for lying to her almost ex husband.

"Was anything taken?" Alec then wanted to know.

He saw Dave glance at Tess and knew something was wrong, besides the man probably being with her when she went back to her car.

"Don't lie to me Harris," Alec warned him. "Were you with her when she found out?"

"So we stopped for lunch," Tess got defensive. "We had to eat, there were plenty of other cars there."

"Then why pick on yours?" he asked her. "Tell me you left nothing on display?"

"I did ask her when we went inside," Dave told him.

"Thanks Dave," Tess half turned to him.

"Well I did," Dave insisted.

"So, what was left on view?" Alec asked her, dreading her reply. "Tell me you handed the evidence in?"

"I never got chance," Tess tried to evade the question.

"What does that mean?" Alec wanted to know. "You still have it?"

She didn't have to reply, he already knew the answer.

"Where's your car Tess?" he then asked her.

"In the garage," she replied quietly. "Forensics are checking it for fingerprints. How was I to know it was a high risk car park?"

"So, what did they get? Beside obviously the handbag the evidence was in or was it just lying on the seat for anyone to see?" Alec snapped at her.

"Of course I never left it on view," Tess snapped back at him.

"So, someone just smashed the window and grabbed the handbag, hoping there was something of value in it? Why your car?" Alec asked as he leaned forward on his elbows.

"How do I know?" Tess replied. "I know I shouldn't have left it in view but no-one saw me leaving the car."

"That's beside the point Tess," Alec told her. "Go check on forensics then join me in the chief's office, both of you."

"Hey, why me?" Dave wanted to know why he was included.

"Because it was probably your idea to stop off there on the way back," Alec told him. "Go with her."

Alec got up, indicating for them to leave. Now he had to go face the chief, to tell him their only hope of convicting Lee Ashworth without Rose's evidence was gone and he'd hoped he had spared her from going to court. How was he going to tell her?

"Tell me she didn't just leave the evidence in her car," the chief was saying.

"I wish I could," Alec replied. "What the hell was she thinking?"

"I should hold you responsible Alec," the chief reminded him.

"They were both capable of bringing the evidence back," Alec defended himself. "They did not need reminding not to stop off on the way back."

"I know Alec but now I have to prove that to headquarters. I'll see what I can do but I'm making no promises," the chief told him. "I'll point out it was their decision to stop off and you knew nothing about it until they got back."

"Well, that's the way it happened," Alec insisted. "I am not going to take the blame."

"I agree Alec, those two are more than capable of bringing an evidence bag back," the chief told him. "It will be down to me to take the blame."

Alec didn't agree, why should either of them have to admit it was a big mistake trusting Tess to do her job properly. He went back to his office and sent a message to Rose for her to call him. She heard the message tone and sneaked a look at the screen while her client was admiring her hair in the mirror.

"You did a great job Rose, my hair was such a mess," she was being told as she held another mirror up to show the back.

"I've seen a lot worse," Rose laughed. "My mum told me a few stories as well. Glad yours wasn't one of them."

She got outside and completed the appointment details and payment then sat in her car and called Alec.

"Is there something wrong?" Rose was worried why he'd text her.

"Rose. I'm sorry, there's no other way of telling you. Tess fouled up and lost the evidence we found in that car."

He waited for her to reply. Rose sat back, not knowing what to make of it.

"Rose, say something," he urged her.

"What can I say? She'd go that far to make me have to testify?" Rose finally told him. "She thinks there's something going on between us, doesn't she?"

Alec was sure she'd said that before but let it slide.

"Rose, she has no grounds to accuse us of anything," Alec assured her. "You can back out of going out with me tonight, if you want?"

He was hoping she still wanted to see him. She was keeping him sane at present.

"What? No, I still want to go out Alec. So, what happens now? Does it just go on what I told ya?"

"I will have to go see the prosecution, she won't be happy," Alec tried to joke.

He thought he'd best go see her in person, rather than be chewed out over the phone.

"I don't believe this," Ms knight told him as he faced her. "It would have been incontestable proof, enough to lock Lee Ashworth up for a long time."

"You don't have to remind me of that," Alec told her. "Now it's all down to Rose Tyler."

"Well as I've already said, she had better be up to it," he was reminded. "Have you been in contact with her, to warn her?"

"She knows and she's not happy about it," Alec admitted.

"You had better not have been compromising her, Inspector," he was warned.

"Tess is the one compromising the case," Alec replied. "I won't take the blame for her."

"Maybe Miss Tyler left something out?' Ms Knight wondered. "See if you can get anything else out of her but do it properly, have someone with you and make the interview formal. I'll see if I can make it admissible in court, by saying it just came to light."

Alec knew they'd have to settle for that, if Rose was indeed holding something back. Maybe Rose didn't have anything more to say but in the back of his mind, she may be holding something back. One thing was sure now, they wouldn't be able to be seen out together after tonight.

If he still wanted to see her, he would have to persuade her to go to his apartment but she may back out altogether until it was all over. Even then, she may not want anything else to do with him for breaking his promise. He couldn't really blame her.

Tess and Dave were plotting when they'd seen the extent of the window damage to her car.

"Tess, I'm telling you, that was not just a random attack," Dave was trying to tell her.

"Don't be stupid Dave. Why would anyone target my car?" Tess disagreed.

"Think about it Tess, who would gain by you losing the evidence?" Dave asked her. "You asked Claire where she'd sold the car."

"Dave, that doesn't mean anything," Tess tried to tell him. "We have to go see her, see if she'll turn against her husband. Just think Dave, she can't be happy about the whole thing."

"Tess, she'll see it as a chance to string us along," Dave laughed.

"Well I don't think she will. It's either that or he walks free. We have to try something Dave," Tess insisted. "We'll have to go in your car."

"Do you think the same as me, that it wasn't a coincidence Claire told you where the car was or not?" Dave wanted to know.

"I don't know Dave. Let's just go see Claire, she should have almost finished at the salon, we'll go wait for her," Tess suggested.

As they waited outside the salon, Claire could see them through the blinds, wondering what Tess was up to. Was she suspicious all of a sudden? She took her time going out as Tess got out of the car.

"What do you want now Tess? I told you where the car was," Claire told her.

"We want to talk to you Claire," Tess replied.

She thought if it had been Claire who had grabbed the evidence bag, it would either be on her or hidden in the salon.

"Where were you earlier Claire?" Tess wanted to know.

"At work, where else would I have been?" Claire huffed as she pressed the button for the window shutters.

"Your staff can vouch for that?' Tess continued.

"Yeah, they can," Claire seemed confident.

"We'll have to come back and get statements in the morning," Tess insisted. "They had better all say the same thing."

"Why did you want to know where the car was?" Claire asked.

"Claire, we believe Pippa was in the car the night she was killed," Tess revealed. "It's being checked over right now. Is there anything you want to tell us?"

"You want me to turn on Lee?" Claire laughed.

"Do you think he was responsible?" Tess asked bluntly.

"Lee?" Claire laughed again. "We hardly had anything to do with Pippa when she wasn't with her parents. We did take her to school as a favour to Cate once or twice."

"When was the last time?" Tess wanted to know.

Now, she wasn't so sure the pendant, wherever it was now had come off Pippa the night she died. If it had come off any time, Ashworth could claim Pippa never asked for it back. Should she tell Alec or let him figure it out for himself? No, he was mad enough with her so she should tell him when she got back, even if he was already involved with Rose Tyler.

She had no proof of that at present but he'd give the game away sooner or later. She waited for Claire to make her mind up if she'd help them or not.

"Well Claire?" Tess asked her.

"I don't remember. You really want me to turn on Lee?" Claire replied. "I want something in return if I do. I want some assurances."

"I'll see what I can do," Tess told her. "Come down to the station tomorrow but you have to make your mind up Claire. We may need you to testify in court, which will be Monday now."

"That soon? I thought the case was on hold?" Claire asked.

"It was," Tess admitted, not wanting to say why it was resuming so quickly. "Until new information came to light."

Now she would see if Claire would admit anything.

"Is that why you wanted the car?" Claire wondered.

"I can't tell you any more," Tess decided she'd given enough away for now.

"I never left anything in it, if that's what ya getting at?" Claire told her.

"I never said you did," Tess replied.

Dave whispered that was enough and they should be getting back. He knew Tess wanted to get back to see if Alec had already left, maybe to meet with their witness. That would be interesting, he thought. Alec Hardy was finally getting his revenge on his cheating wife.

Tess was wondering what Claire was after in return for turning on her husband. If it was something reasonable, Alec might go for it, to save Rose from having to testify. She thought he may do anything to stop that happening and if he went with the idea of it being Claire instead, he was definitely seeing Rose.

Alec thought it was worth waiting to see what Tess had been up to when she didn't get back at her usual time. He saw her and Dave come back into the office, trying to judge what mood she was in. She saw him looking and went into his office.

"Claire might help us after all," she told him. "She said they sometimes took Pippa to school so Lee may claim the pendant had been left by her some other time. He could have put it in the glove compartment any time. So we may not have been able to use it anyway."

"You could be wrong," Alec disagreed. "Pippa would have wanted it back. I will have to ask Rose if she saw the girl wearing it. Didn't Cate say she was wearing it though?"

"I'll have to check. I'll leave Rose to you," Tess replied.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Alec wanted to know.

"You know what I mean Alec. Don't deny there's something going on between the two of you," Tess laughed.

"Just because you were cheating with Dave," Alec told her. "This is not the time Tess. Leave Rose out of it. What else did you find out?"

"She claims she was at the salon when my car window was smashed. I'll check with her staff and I told her to come down here and we'd listen to what she wants in return for turning on her husband."

Alec might have known Claire would want something in return for her help.

"See what she has to say then," he agreed.

If it saved Rose having to stand up in court, he was all for it – within reason. He was not however going to take the bait over Tess's other remarks. He left for the day and went to tidy himself up to meet Rose. That was if she did still want to be seen with him but from now on, they would have to be very careful.

Tess now suspected for sure something was going on but he wasn't going to say anything to Rose about it. He had to get her to fully trust him and get her to tell him what she'd left out of her statement. It had to be something that she thought was betraying the young girl's trust.

How could he make her see it would put Pippa's killer away, that it would do more good than harm? Rose got home and dashed to her room to get changed, not that she had much in her wardrobe so she'd have to mix and match a bit. She was ready with time to spare so she went to catch up on gossip with her mother.

"Rose, if you're gonna keep seeing that detective, don't get in the papers," she warned Rose.

"I'm not gonna Mum," Rose assured her. "I really like him, we'll be careful."

"Well I hope ya will," Jackie replied. "I don't want to hear any gossip amongst my customers."

Rose rather thought it would cheer everyone up but wanted to spare Alec, he was in the papers enough.

The intercom rang and she went to answer it.

"What floor are you on?" Alec wanted to know.

"I'll come down," Rose offered.

"No, I insist. You should introduce me to your mother," Alec decided.

He thought maybe he should get it over and done with, if he were to keep taking Rose out but maybe not in the town after tonight. He would hear in the morning what Claire had to say, then he would call the prosecution to see what she thought of swapping Claire for Rose.

If Claire had been around that night instead of being elsewhere as she claimed to be, it could be their big breakthrough in the case, better than Rose could tell the court unless she was holding something back. He arrived at her door and pressed the buzzer.

"He really came for ya," Jackie laughed.

"Well do ya want meet him or not?" Rose asked her.

Chapter 9

Sorry for such a short chapter. I'm just managing to get this posted by typing one-handed, my other hand is really hurting at present but not through typing. I'll start another chapter of this and the other ongoing story as soon as my other hand gets better. Thanks for sticking around.

As Alec waited for Rose to answer the door, he thought her delay meant she had backed out at the last minute of either going out, meeting her mother or both. He was relieved when the door finally opened as Jackie nodded her agreement of meeting Rose's latest boyfriend.

"Well, I suppose I'd best meet him then?" her mother admitted.

"You'll like him Mum," Rose grinned as she unlocked the door. "Hi Alec, well come in then," she smiled at him as he handed her some flowers he had stopped to buy and some chocolates for her mother.

"Hi Rose," he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek as she took the flowers from him. "Ah, Mrs Tyler, a pleasure to meet you, these are for you," he added as he handed a box to her.

He'd thought he'd best not buy her the cheap ones, since he wanted to make a good impression.

"Well he's a charmer," Jackie turned to Rose. "Ya can call me Jackie," she then told Alec, who was waiting to see if she accepted him or not.

He'd thought of a million reasons why Rose's mother would disapprove of him on his way to where she lived, being too old and still technically married fighting for first place. Jackie Tyler could probably treat them both equally in her objections of him pursuing her daughter.

"Well, we'd best get going then," Rose decided the two of them were having a staring contest and her mother was winning.

"Yes, we should," Alec couldn't agree more as he found his voice again.

He could interrogate suspects all day and not bat an eyelid but Rose's mother was something else. He'd learned his lesson with Tess's mother, who had interfered since the word go when he had called for Tess.

"Well I hope ya gonna bring her back here," Jackie told him.

"Of course," Alec had to agree, hoping she would be in bed by the time he brought Rose home.

He was also hoping Rose would invite him in, if the evening went well. They drove off to a restaurant Alec had located but Rose was quiet all through the meal.

"Are you okay Rose?" Alec became concerned as she looked at the dessert menu.

"Yeah. This place is really nice but expensive," she managed to smile.

"Well you are worth it," Alec assured her. "We could go somewhere else when we leave here?" he then suggested.

"Don't want to face my mum?" Rose teased him, looking at him from behind the menu.

"Nothing of the sort. Your mother is nothing to worry about compared with my almost ex mother-in-law," Alec smiled.

"Yeah, you seemed to have got on my mum's good side," Rose told him. "When I was nineteen, I had this sort of boyfriend back home. His name was Mickey and we'd known each other since we were kids. Mum was always kicking him out when he overstayed his welcome."

"So he became your boyfriend?" Alec was curious.

"Well on and off," Rose admitted, passing him the menu. "I'll have the apple pie and cream, thanks. Don't worry about Mickey, I've not heard from him since we moved here."

"Who said I was worried eh?" Alec replied. "Rose, your ex-boyfriends are the least of my worries," he tried to assure her. "Your mother may think I am too old for you, let alone technically still being married."

"I've never been out with a married man before," Rose teased him.

"Shush, we are trying to stay out of the news, remember?" he thought he'd already told her.

"Oh come on Alec, we may not have to worry if I don't have to go to court," Rose replied. "Do ya think the trial will continue now?"

"That depends," he answered truthfully. "If the prosecution think it is worth it, she will go ahead and then it will be dependant on you. I'm sorry Rose, there is nothing else now, you are all we have left, thanks to Tess's incompetence."

"Geez, I hope I don't let ya down then," Rose went serious.

She put her hand on top of his while he was trying to get a waiter's attention.

"I'm sure you won't," he replied as one approached their table.

He gave their orders and moved to sit next to her.

"How could she do such a thing, ruining any chance of locking that bloke up?" Rose wanted to know. "Do ya think she really did it to get back at you?"

"She may have done but no matter what, she has let the family down. If they ever found out, I hate to think how they will react. It will go on Tess's record and Daisy may find out what her mother did, stopping to meet another man."

"I'm sorry Alec," Rose squeezed his hand. "Maybe Daisy won't find out?"

"Her friends are bound to talk about it at school," Alec replied. "We can only hope the family don't talk to the press and that it doesn't come out in court what really happened."

"Will ya be able to keep it quiet?" Rose wondered.

"Hopefully, the prosecution will try their best to give as little information as possible. You may get a call tomorrow to appear in court. How do you feel about it now?"

"How do ya think?" Rose tried to bluff. "Let's just forget about it for now. We don't have to go somewhere else after we finish here. Can we go to your place? My mum will make excuses to stay up if we go to mine."

"If you want to?" Alec agreed. "Rose, you know I won't do anything to compromise your testimony?"

"Yeah, I know," Rose assured him.

They finished eating then Alec helped her up and they left, Alec opening the car passenger door for her and sneaking a kiss on her cheek.

"I was warned about compromising you," Alec admitted. "I never planned on this happening, that I would want to ask you out properly."

"I never planned it either," Rose laughed nervously.

They arrived at Alec's place and he let Rose go in first, offering to take her jacket.

"Make yourself at home," he smiled as Rose looked around. "Don't you go saying I need to brighten the place up, Daisy already told me."

"I never said anything," Rose grinned.

"I know what you women are like," he teased her.

"Do ya wanna know something?" Alec nodded as they sat down. "I didn't think ya even remembered me, when ya first saw me leaving where ya used to live and when I said I knew something about Pippa. Did ya remember me?"

"Tess mentioned it but yes, I remembered you. Rose, you are not holding anything back, are you? I mean about you talking with Pippa. Did you talk to Lisa as well?"

Rose sat back against the cushion.

"No-one's ever mentioned poor Lisa. Where do ya think she is Alec?" Rose asked him sadly.

"I can't talk about it much but we traced where she last made a phone call from and used her bank card. She may have seen something that night and ran away," Alec admitted.

"Geez, do ya think she could have been next?" Rose was horrified.

"Calm down Rose. She must have seen something and got away in the confusion. A young man had been hanging around that night, he may have helped her get away."

"I hope so. Why have ya not mentioned her to me?" Rose wanted to know.

"Because it is an ongoing investigation, it is different to Pippa's case, that's gone to trial. We are still actively looking for Lisa, we hoped she might come forward when we locked someone up for killing her cousin. So, did you speak to Lisa on that Friday?"

"Just a few words really," Rose confessed. "Pippa did most of the talking. Cate said something to Lisa, I think it was about taking Pippa next door, I'm not sure now."

"It's okay," Alec assured her, taking her hand. "We can't do anything about it unless she is declared missing and at present, we are not treating it as suspicious. Cate is the one who is worried about her the most."

"Alec, did I do the right thing by not agreeing to do Cate's hair?" Rose asked him.

"Yes, she thought I was sending you to spy on her and she may have asked some awkward questions. It would have made things worse," Alec replied. "Had Cate warned Pippa about going next door did you say?"

"Yeah, a few times. Pippa wanted the woman to do her hair for her," Rose reminded him.

"Well, enough of that because I really wanted to kiss you properly," he admitted.

Rose leaned forward and put her arms around him, leaning on his shoulder.

"We have to take this slow, don't we?"

"For now," he replied, putting his finger on her lips.

Just after ten, Rose said she should be going home.

"Ah, you unfastened my shirt buttons," Alec reminded her, still grinning.

"Well, that could take some time," Rose teased him, taking hold of one side of his shirt.

"You want me to drive you home?" he wondered if she meant it or not.

"Sorry, I was being daft," Rose admitted, fingering a button in the middle.

She was still reluctant to fasten the shirt, she was admiring the view.

"Maybe I should finish the job eh?" he offered.

Rose tried not to look embarrassed that she had been caught out.

Chapter 10

As Alec drove her home, Rose was quiet again. Then she spoke up as they got nearer to where she lived.

"You promised mum you'd escort me home," she reminded him.

"I had best not stay long, had I?" he teased her. "Considering what you told me about this Mickey."

"She'll soon get used to ya," Rose laughed as he turned into the driveway. "I don't think she trusted Mickey."

Alec had to wonder what she meant by that, did he have to start worrying Jackie Tyler would judge himself the same? He was sure Rose would stick up for him though. Jackie had been about to go to bed but thought she'd see if Rose came back on her own.

"We're back Mum," Rose called as she left the door for Alec to follow her.

"I was just about to go to bed," her mother claimed as she got off the sofa.

"Yes Mum, Alec came back with me," Rose laughed. "Night then," she added, which meant she knew her mother had stayed up on purpose.

Rose indicated for Alec to sit on the sofa then when her mother had gone, joined him.

"I had best not stay long," Alec told her again as he put his arm around her shoulders.

"Yeah, don't want her checking on us," Rose teased him.

"I had enough of that with Tess's mother," he admitted. "I'm not very good at this dating thing."

"Aw, don't say that," Rose replied as she put her arm in his. "Well at least take off ya jacket."

"That's just it Rose, I am somewhat out of practice," he admitted.

"Ya will soon pick it up again," she encouraged him. "I really don't care if ya are older than I am ya know?"

"Then that helps somewhat," he agreed. "I was hoping that would not put you off but I was also worried because I'm the officer in charge and having to be careful."

"Alec, it's fine," Rose assured him. "It won't put me off. You're the nicest man I've met in a long time."

Alec decided to lean over and see if he could get another kiss out of her. He did and Rose went for his shirt buttons again.

"I have to go, remember?" he had to smile at her enthusiasm.

"Yeah, I was being silly," Rose had to admit.

"No, it was very pleasant earlier," he replied. "Rose, we can't risk being seen out together once the trial is reconvened, it will be all over the news. We will try to keep your name out of it but there will be a lot of reporters around," he warned her. "You had best keep your head down going in and out of the court building and don't answer any questions they may throw at you."

"Thanks for the warning," Rose tried to smile. "I really hope you can get that Claire to testify instead of me ya know."

"We are trying our best to," Alec reminded her. "She was still refusing earlier. There is not much else we can do except hope she will turn up on Monday. We can't force her to give evidence against her husband."

He got up, deciding whether he liked it or not, he had to be the one to end the evening. Rose went to see him out.

"I will let you know what's going on tomorrow," he promised. "I had a very pleasant evening, goodnight Rose."

He leaned down to kiss her goodnight, then trying not to prolong it, he opened the door.

"Night Alec, I had a lovely time," she told him.

Now, she wondered what was going to happen between them if they couldn't go out any more together. Maybe it would put him off and tonight would have been their only real date? She hoped not but she had to face facts, especially if she let him down in court and the defence tore her statement to pieces.

She had watched all the reality shows with her mother to know what went on in a courtroom.

While Rose and Alec had enjoyed a pleasant evening out, Claire had been thinking about what Tess had said to her. Why should she risk everything to prove Lee had killed Pippa that night? It had been no accident, she had given the girl that drug and told her to go to sleep and suggested Lee finished the job. Even though he had betrayed her, she should have known he'd give in to Lisa while she herself had been out.

Hadn't that been the whole point in encouraging the two girls to come round, even though she knew Cate objected? Cate had just been jealous she'd not been invited. Would she have been able to rely on Ricky convincing Pippa she had imagined it all that night?

The best she could do now was try to move on with her life, to run away from it all just like when she'd had to leave the village in Wales she'd grown up in when all the trouble had started there. She still had the pendant she'd discovered Lee had carelessly left in the car he'd sold to try and get out on bail, then Tess had been stupid enough to leave it in her car.

That had been a waste of time, Lee trying to get himself released, she recalled. So, should she turn up at the police station in the morning and say she'd help put Lee away or not? If he got off, he'd go after her and find her wherever she went. Maybe she'd be able to get some help in exchange, should she try Tess or Tess's husband? She might be able to charm him into helping, it didn't seem like he and Tess were together any more.

Alec had just got into his office the following morning when he got a call to say Claire was asking for him at the front desk.

"What did you do that for?" he asked the desk sergeant when told about Claire asking for him and saying he was in. "You should have called DS Henchard," Alec complained and trying to remember if Tess had decided what name she was going to go by.

"Who Sir?" he was asked.

"DS Hardy, though she should make her mind up what she's going to be called by," Alec further complained.

"Sorry Sir but the young lady insisted on seeing you," he was told.

"Put her in an interview room," Alec decided, knowing it wouldn't be Rose calling to see him so it had to be Claire. "Have DS Hardy join me."

"Well, do I get to see him or not?" Claire wanted to know when the desk sergeant put the phone down.

"Yes, he's on his way down," she was told. "I'll have someone show you to an interview room."

She bet anything Hardy would send Tess down, he'd not want to face her. He always sent Tess to ask questions, she could have maybe got around him, she had a way with men, hence marrying Lee. Now she was regretting it, he should never have betrayed her with Lisa, then both girls would still be alive.

She was never going to tell either of the detectives that she knew where Lisa was, if she did, Ricky would tell the police they drugged Pippa and Lee had finished the job. She could put all the blame on Lee and still deny she got home that night to find Pippa sobbing at the bottom of the stairs. Ricky was hardly going to say anything, was he? She looked up when the interview room door opened and Alec walked in, followed by Tess.

Tess had not been happy when she'd been told to report to the interview room and Alec was waiting for her.

"Why do you need me here?" she had wanted to know.

"We're going to give Claire one last chance to come clean," Alec had replied.

"Come on Alec, she's refused so far, what makes you think she's going to make her mind up to help us now?" Tess asked him.

"She has to be the one who broke into your car and stole the pendant," Alec had replied.

"You think it was Claire?" Tess was surprised.

"Think about it Tess. Who had a motive to get it back to save Lee going to prison?"

Tess had thought about it and decided to go along with the idea, it sort of made sense, she supposed.

"Right Claire," Alec started off when he'd set the tape recorder going and shuffled the papers in the file he'd brought with him, which were blank but Claire didn't know that. "One last chance or we charge you with aiding and abetting Lee killing Pippa Gillespie."

"What?" Claire went all serious suddenly. "You are joking?"

Tess just glanced at him. So what was he up to?

"You kept changing your story Claire, so, which is it? Were you there that night and saw what happened?" Alec wanted to know. "Was Pippa alive when you say you got home?"

No-one, including Tess had ever asked her that before, Claire thought. Why was Alec asking now?

"It's true I went out," Claire started to tell them. "It was Lee who made me swear I'd tell the police I was in with him that night. I'm scared of him."

"So what time did you get home Claire?" Alec wanted to know.

"It was about ten," Claire admitted. "Lee poured me a drink and the next thing I knew, it was morning. He must have drugged me."

"So this is a completely different version than from before?" Alec asked her. "Why did you not say so before, instead of first saying you were in with Lee all night, then saying you were out all night."

"I didn't know what else to say," Claire claimed. "I didn't think you'd believe me, that Lee drugged me."

Alec got a sheet of paper out of the folder and passed it to Claire, Tess handing her a pen.

"Write it all down," Alec told Claire. "Including what happened the following morning."

"When I woke up, Lee was cleaning the whole house," Claire told him as she looked at the sheet of paper.

"Stay with her," Alec turned to Tess.

"Where are you going?" Tess objected.

"I have something to do," he just replied.

Tess could guess it had something to do with Rose Tyler. Now Claire had come up with yet another alibi, Rose would be their only witness and it would take some proving in court that Cate wasn't paranoid about the girls going next door. It seemed now, she'd been right to be worried. Rose's testimony still may not be enough.

Alec got outside, annoyed that Claire had come up with yet another story. It wasn't looking good for the prosecution, he now had to call her and Rose to give them the bad news.

"I don't know what you expect me to do now," Ms Knight told Alec. "Rose Tyler's testimony may fall apart."

"I don't need reminding of that," Alec replied. "She is already nervous. I thought we could get Claire to change her mind and testify against her husband."

"We don't get many wives doing that," Ms Knight replied. "Have Rose Tyler here at the court for nine thirty on Monday, so I can talk to her first."

Alec thought Rose was going to love that when he told her. He sent her a message for her to call him and went back to see how Tess was getting on with Claire.

"Do you believe me?" Claire wanted to know, still holding the pen.

"If you're telling the truth," Tess replied, not knowing what Alec thought about it.

"I bet your husband doesn't," Claire told her. "Oh, he's not still your husband, is he?" she added.

"That's not relevant Claire," Tess reminded her.

Claire knew it was a sore point.

"What will happen if I do testify against Lee?" she asked Tess. "Will I get police protection if he still gets off?"

"I can't promise anything," Tess told her bluntly.

"Then how to you expect me to agree?" Claire wanted to know. "What about witness protection then? That's a joke."

"I'm sorry Claire, it's not up to me," Tess replied.

"So I have to take my chances? I'm taking a big risk, having to face Lee in court. Can't I do it remotely?" she asked.

"I don't know about that Claire," Tess knew she was trying to get out of it.

"Can't you check for me?" Claire didn't give up.

Alec was waiting for Rose to call him back. When she did, he knew she wouldn't be happy.

"Monday morning?" Rose had asked him. "I'll have to cancel my bookings for the day but I suppose if I have to go?"

"I'm sorry Rose, I just found out," he apologised.

"It's not your fault Alec. So she hasn't changed her mind about testifying then?"

"Not yet. She just came up with another version of events that night. The prosecution may not even agree to let her appear in court, then it won't matter if she agrees to appear or not. Even if you turn up at court, you may not be called right away, if at all. Sorry love, most of it involves just waiting around."

"Will ya be able to wait with me?" Rose wondered. "Will ya get into trouble if ya do?"

"I can say you are nervous and I am making sure you don't run off," he teased her.

"Geez, thanks," Rose sighed. "I hope they have a coffee machine, I'll need it."

"It depends how the proceedings go as well, the judge may not even agree to hear what you have to say. The prosecution will have to give an account of what your testimony can prove, such as how Cate was refusing to let Pippa go next door and how Pippa herself seemed the day before," he tried to explain. "It is not as easy as it is portrayed on TV."

"I never expected it would be," Rose had to admit. "So I may take the day off and not even be called at all?"

"Sorry, that is just how it is," Alec told her. "Do you want to go out tonight?" he offered.

"Can we leave it until tomorrow? Do ya mind? I'll have to make some calls tonight to cancel my appointments. I can't even tell them why, can I?"

"Not really, sorry," he replied. "I can find somewhere out of town tomorrow night then?" he asked.

"Yeah, okay then. I'll have more time to get ready," Rose replied.

"You looked nice last night," he praised her. "I can pick you up around seven then? Sure I cannot tempt you out just for a while tonight?"

Rose didn't want him to think she was going to expect to be taken out every night. They had to get to know each other properly first, get comfortable with each other but that depended on if she let him down if she was called to give evidence. If she did let him down and the killer was set free, she would probably deserve to be let down by Alec.

"Best not," she answered him after a few moments silence, making Alec think she'd ended the call. "Can I ask ya something?"

"Sure, you can ask me anything," he agreed. "Well within reason," he added.

"Oh. Sorry, it's nothing personal," Rose seemed surprised.

"I did not mean it like that," he regretted saying anything. "Ask what you like. Is it about us seeing each other by any chance? If so, you can say how often we go out you know?"

"Well that was partly what I was gonna say. I mean you won't be offended if I have to say no to going out when ya suggest it, will ya?"

"No, of course not," he replied. "You should know I would not ask you out if I did not enjoy your company. We can take it at whatever pace you want, although you did seem keen last night," he reminded her.

"Don't remind me, sorry," Rose laughed.

"There is no need to apologise Rose, I told you, I enjoyed it. It has been a long time since anyone was as keen to get my shirt off like that," he teased her.

"I feel embarrassed now," Rose admitted. "Are ya busy on Sunday? Come round for lunch, then my mum will see she can trust ya."

"On one condition then," he agreed. "That afterwards, you will let me take you out for a drink, maybe into the countryside somewhere?"

"Yeah, okay then, I'll tell mum. Ya can tell the prosecution I'll be there on Monday and I'll see you tomorrow night then?"

"Yes, though maybe I can call you later?" he hoped.

"Yeah, I'd like that. I have to go now, bye Alec."

Tess was waiting for his return, Claire sitting back on the chair with her arms folded.

"So, this is the truth now?" Alec wanted to be sure as he read Claire's statement.

"Yes. It's the truth. Don't make me face Lee in court. Can't my statement be read out?" Claire asked him.

"I will let you know but be prepared to appear if the answer is no," Alec warned her.

Claire left and Tess turned to him.

"That's what she wanted Alec," she told him.

"What do you want me to do Tess? How many more times would she change her story eh? I doubt very much the judge will agree to let Claire give evidence in person, don't you?"

"So, it's all down to your new girlfriend then?" Tess huffed. "Does the prosecution know you're involved with Rose?"

Chapter 11

Alec got up to leave.

"That has nothing to do with it Tess and you know," he reminded her.

"It's bound to come out Alec," Tess goaded him.

Alec wasn't going to take the bait and Tess knew it.

"Leave it Tess," he then warned her. "Rose can please herself if she chooses to go out with me or not. If she has to appear in court and the defence take her testimony apart, she may never want to see me again."

He didn't want to even think about that. Rose was the only person keeping him sane these days. He wished she had agreed to go out with him tonight but if he overcrowded her, she may back away and he didn't want that. He finally went home, thinking back to the night before when Rose had kissed him. He was about to call her but put his phone on the coffee table.

They had only just established a relationship and he had been the one to say they should be careful about seeing each other and he already wanted to break his own rules. Some example he would be if he couldn't go one night without seeing her.

He had mentioned he may call her though, would she be expecting him to and be disappointed if he didn't? He sent her a message instead and she called him back. She had already warned her mother he was coming over for lunch on Sunday.

"You'll have to help ya know?" her mother was complaining. "I never had to cook anything special for one of your boyfriends ya know?"

"Mum, don't bother doing anything fancy, he won't be expecting it," Rose tried to assure her. "If ya don't want me to invite him, just say."

"I never said that," Jackie reminded her. "I'm sure he's got better table manners than Mickey had."

Rose thought even a chimp had better table manners than Mickey. She now wished she'd not compared them in front of Alec, he might take it the wrong way. So when he sent a text asking if she was busy, she called back instead.

"Hi Alec, miss me already?" she teased him.

That made Alec smile. Yes, he did miss her already.

"What makes you think that?" he decided to tease her back.

"Let me think? You've not rung me since you called me earlier," she replied, hoping it made sense as she couldn't think straight.

Alec knew she was still a bit nervous, going from a detective and a witness to being more than friends could be daunting.

"Rose, there is no need to be nervous when I call you," he tried to assure her.

"Who's nervous?" Rose tried to bluff. "Who am I kidding, yeah, I'm still a bit nervous. Alec, what if things go wrong in court and I let ya down?"

"Rose, you could never let me down," he replied. "You will have done your best, the defence will try to trick you, you know that already."

"Yeah, it came to mind," she told him. "I guess the judge won't be impressed if I answer them sarcastically?"

"I doubt it," Alec laughed. "Just be yourself love," he added, hoping she wouldn't mind him calling her that.

"I'll just have to try then?" Rose replied. "I won't be able to look over at ya either, will I?"

"Sorry, best not," Alec had to tell her. "Just go through your conversations with Pippa and Lisa. You can do that Rose, I have faith in you."

"I'll really try not to let ya down Alec."

"I know. Did you warn your mother I was invited for lunch on Sunday?" he tried to change the subject.

"Yeah, we were just talkin' about it," Rose replied. "I told her not to make anything fancy."

"Good, I would not like to put her to any trouble," he told her. "Would she prefer flowers or chocolates as a thank you for letting me join you both?"

"Aw, either's fine but ya don't have to," Rose laughed.

"Then I will get both and give her first choice," he decided. "I would not like her to think I have no manners," he added.

"Hey, do ya know how to make video calls?" Rose then suggested.

"Daisy taught me," he replied confidently. "I will add you to my call list and maybe next time, we will video call but I would rather see you in person."

"Yeah and all ya will see is me blushing," Rose admitted. "I have to get back to calling my clients for Monday, some didn't answer earlier."

"Then don't let me stop you. I will see you tomorrow night, I look forward to it," he told her.

"Yeah me too Alec. Night then."

Rose leaned back on the sofa, forgetting she had two clients to call and cancel their Monday appointments. She hoped they would understand, the others had been okay and would re-book the appointments. Her mother came in from the kitchen and saw Rose staring into space.

"You're really infatuated with that detective Rose, are ya sure it's not against the rules if he's in charge of that case?" Jackie wanted to know.

"He said we had to be careful but I think his boss knows. The prosecution suspect something," Rose admitted.

"Ya never know what they'll ask ya in court," Jackie reminded her. "Ya'd best be careful Rose."

"We are being careful Mum, he's taking me out of town tomorrow night," Rose replied.

"Yeah, like that's gonna help," her mother laughed. "I'm serious Rose, ya don't want everyone recognising ya when ya have to stand up in court. Ya don't want the newspaper reporters all over ya, asking if ya involved with the lead detective on the case."

"It won't come to that Mum," Rose tried to be confidant.

"Ya'd best hope not," Jackie replied.

Rose had no idea how the press would treat her. They wouldn't know who she was on the way in but they would when she came out of the courtroom. She couldn't even ask Alec to fend them off for her, in case he gave too much away. One hint of them being involved could sway things in the favour of the defence.

Despite Alec's assurance nothing would change between them, she was still worried he might not want all the media attention on them. Then she might end it to save him the embarrassment. Only one thing would end the doubt and from what Alec had told her, the suspect's wife was still unwilling to talk.

After going shopping the following day with her mother, Rose began getting ready for her second date with Alec. She now had a bit more confidence but hoped he wouldn't take her to a posh restaurant and she showed him up.

Alec was hoping Rose wouldn't think he was trying to hide their relationship by taking her out of town but if they weren't careful, someone may recognise them. He finally set off to pick Rose up, flowers and nice chocolates on the seat next to him, not supermarket flowers, ones he'd got from a florists in the town centre. He'd met with Daisy for a few hours but she'd noticed them on the back seat as he'd taken her home.

"Well Dad?" Daisy had teased him. "So all the complaining mum's been doing means you really do have a new girlfriend?"

"I thought I'd already cleared that up?" Alec replied.

"Well she's been going on about it for ages now. How am I supposed to know?" Daisy asked him.

Alec was sure they'd had this conversation before but Daisy was just making sure, he supposed.

"So, is her name Rose?" Daisy continued as Alec kept quiet.

"Yes, her name is Rose, you must have seen her when your mother had her hair done," he reminded her.

"Dad, I never took any notice. I was either doing my homework or at a friend's," Daisy replied. "I remember when mum had her hair done once, she was staring at herself in the mirror when I saw her."

"Was she now?" Alec wondered, since she'd not had it done for him, that was for sure.

"So do I get to meet her?" Daisy wanted to know as they'd neared the house.

"Not just yet but you will," he promised, stopping by the gate.

"Mum says Rose is a witness," Daisy admitted. "Isn't that against the rules Dad?"

"Your mother should not have said anything," he told her. "Rose cannot change her testimony. If she does, the defence will have it thrown out. I would never ask her to risk changing anything."

"I never said you would Dad. See you next week then? When can I come over to your new place then?"

"Soon," he replied as she leaned over to kiss his cheek.

He knew when she got inside, Tess would question her, so he'd had to be careful what he said.

As he set off home, he hoped Rose wouldn't back out of their date. Once he was on his way to pick her up, he began to relax, since she'd not yet called the date off but he may have to face Jackie Tyler at the door if Rose wouldn't come out.

"How do I look Mum?" Rose was asking her mother while looking in the hall mirror. "Should I change these earrings?"

"Stop fussing will ya," Jackie laughed. "Ya look fine. Blimey, where's he taking ya? To The Ritz?"

Rose pulled a face through the mirror and looked down at herself.

"He'll be here soon and I've got butterflies in my stomach," Rose admitted. "Geez Mum, why do I feel like this?"

"I think that's obvious Rose, don't you?" Jackie replied with a serious look on her face. "Ya falling for him."

Rose knew deep down her mother was right. So this is what it felt like? Being nervous, feeling like you're floating when they had kissed and getting the shivers thinking about him. These were all new to her, Alec was her first serious boyfriend and she liked the feeling.

When the buzzer went, she froze.

"Well go let him in," her mother reminded her. "Ya don't want him to think ya backed out."

Jackie took her by the shoulders and steered her towards the buzzer on the wall.

"Hello?" Rose asked nervously.

Jackie just smiled to herself. Who else was Rose expecting? It seemed it was too late, her daughter was smitten with the good-looking detective and she hoped Rose would finally settle down.

"Ah, it's me," Alec replied, thinking he was just as nervous as she was.

"Come on up Alec," Rose recognised his Scottish accent.

Who else did she know who had one?

Jackie saw her hovering her finger over the door button and went over to press it herself.

"You're hopeless," she laughed at Rose going red in the face.

Alec heard the door being released at thought he'd best move before it locked again. Then he'd have to call again and maybe get quizzed by Jackie this time. When had he last felt like a teenager on a first date? He'd not felt like that when he was going out with Tess.

Being in the police back then didn't allow much of a social life and they had sort of been thrown together but this time it was different. At least being a DI meant he could more or less please himself as long as the criminals were caught.

He found himself pressing the doorbell and quickly ran his fingers through his thick hair even though he'd combed it several times before he'd set off, it had a mind of its own.

"Are ya gonna let him in?" Jackie asked a frozen Rose. "Blimey, anyone would think ya'd not been out with him before."

"What?" Rose replied, staring at the door. "Oh, yeah."

She pulled the latch back and found Alec staring at the floor, looking up as she opened it.

"Rose. May I say you look very nice?" he asked as he looked at her.

"Thanks. You look very smart Alec, are we going somewhere posh?" she stuttered as she let him in, Jackie watching from the living room door and shaking her head at the pair of them.

This was a novelty, she thought as Rose and Alec stared at each other. Rose had never been like this with her past boyfriends, that was for sure.

"Is it that bad I am wearing a suit?" he then wondered, looking down at himself.

"What? No, I didn't mean it like that," Rose blushed. "Anyway, say hello to mum before we set off," she tried to recover.

"Ah, Jackie, a pleasure to see you again," Alec made his way towards her, holding out the flowers to see if she'd take them or if she would point to the chocolates.

Jackie couldn't fault her daughter's new boyfriend on his manners.

"These flowers are lovely," Jackie replied as she took the multi-coloured bunch from him, then saw the chocolates.

"Rose, ah, these are for you," he then turned to Rose with the fancy box.

"Oh, thanks. So, where are we going?" Rose seemed to be recovering.

They said goodnight to Jackie and Alec helped Rose into the car. They set off out of town and arrived at a restaurant attached to a country pub and Alec pulled up in a vacant parking space near the entrance, hoping it wasn't reserved or he'd have to put his police sign on the dashboard.

Rose would think he was showing off then.

"This looks nice Alec," Rose said as she waited for him to open the car door, thinking she may as well let him pamper her.

They went inside and stopped in front of the small desk.

"Do you have a reservation Sir?"

Alec hoped the head waiter was not going to show him up in front of his new seemingly girlfriend. Well he now hoped Rose considered herself his girlfriend, she'd not said otherwise. Should he maybe ask her properly instead of just assuming?

"Yes, for two under the name of Hardy," Alec replied quickly before the other man assumed the answer was no and made them wait all night.

The waiter quickly check the list, Alec noting they still did it the old-fashioned way in a fancy ledger.

"Ah, yes," was the reply. "This way, Sir, Madam."

As they followed, Alec really hoped they wouldn't be put by the kitchen door, it would be embarrassing since Rose had got all dressed up. He was relieved when they were shown to a window table, the windows dressed with white draped cotton curtains, an old-fashioned oil lamp converted to power on the low window ledge, flowers either side of it in fancy glass bowls and there was an old gramophone on a fancy stand just at the side.

The waiter produced two menus in red covers and asked if he could get them anything to drink.

"Your best house wine maybe?" Alec replied, looking at Rose.

He thought he would be only able to have a maximum of two glasses to be able to drive them back so he added a non-alcoholic beer to the order and asked Rose what else she wanted.

"Just tonic water with lemon, thanks," Rose peeked over the top of the large menu and hoping it wasn't all written in French or Italian as she couldn't tell by the name on the cover what type of restaurant it was.

"Could we have the wine served with our main course?" Alec then asked, wondering if Rose could manage several courses.

"Of course Sir, I will have the waiter serve your other drinks right away," the head waiter assured him.

When he had gone away, Rose looked over the top of the menu again, glad she had got dressed up.

"I've never been to a place like this before," she admitted. "I hope it's not too expensive?"

"Not for you," Alec smiled back, putting his specs on and hoping Rose wouldn't laugh at him.

He was sure she'd seen him wearing them in the interview room back at the station.

"You look cute in those," Rose told him as she retreated behind the large menu again.

"I do?" he was surprised. "Do you need any help ordering?" he dared ask, hoping he wasn't inferring Rose couldn't choose her own food.

"Yeah, I'm a bit lost," she had to admit as she lowered the menu again and hoping no-one was watching.

"Well, first choose an appetizer, then soup, the main course then dessert," Alec replied. hoping he'd got it right.

"That's a big help Alec," Rose tried not to laugh. "Which is which?"

"They are on separate pages of the menu," Alec replied, thinking she must still be on the drinks menu, which itself was rather daunting.

"What are you having?" Rose wondered, not wanting to show herself up.

Alec looked on the first page, then looked over the top of his glasses at her, making Rose smile. They were interrupted by the waiter with a drinks tray. When the man had left, Alec thought they'd best hurry up and order before someone was hovering over them with a pad and pen in their hands.

"Well, we could have prawn cocktail or melon to start, followed by maybe the vegetable soup?" he offered, trying to see if she was pulling a face at his suggestion if she thought they were boring and wanted to try something else.

"I fancy the breaded mozzarella cheese sticks," Rose grinned. "The soup sounds good. Is this French or Italian?" she then wanted to know.

"Not as far as I know. Shall we place our orders for now or have you chosen a main dish?"

Rose turned the pages and thought she probably wouldn't get as far as dessert.

The meal was going well, after Rose finally decided she did indeed have room for dessert.

"Would you care for coffee served with cheese and biscuits?" their waiter asked them as he cleared the glass dishes away.

"Just coffee for me," Rose managed to reply as she felt full.

Alec ordered the same then leaned over the now clear table to put his hand on top of hers.

"That was really nice Alec," Rose told him. "I could get used to coming here."

"Then we will come again, if it pleases you," Alec replied. "You are worth it Rose."

Rose was sure she was blushing by now.

"So, after we leave, do I take you home or would you maybe want to go back to my apartment?"

He had been planning how to ask her back all evening and hope she wouldn't get up and demand he took her home and maybe that would be the end of her being his girlfriend.

"Well if you take me home and you go in, my mum will be waiting up again, probably?" Rose teased him.

"Will she?" Alec didn't look happy about it.

"It's just a novelty to her, she'll soon get tired of it, trust me," Rose smiled, moving her hand as the waiter came back.

"So, does that mean you will come back with me and I take you home later or I am not invited in if I take you home now?" Alec wondered.

Rose herself didn't know the answer to that one.

Chapter 12

Alec started to get up and held out his hand, Rose taking it.

"Maybe it's better we go to your place Alec?" Rose then suggested.

"Fine but if you want to go home after, then I will take you," he offered.

He went to settle the bill as Rose excused herself to the ladies room, where she was still having a debate with herself. Alec was the best thing that had ever happened to her and she knew it, why spoil it, she wondered. There again, she didn't want to get too dependant on him in case everything fell apart on Monday.

It could be the shortest romance ever if things went wrong in court. She was already nervous, would she be able to stop looking at him all day? She went back out and took Alec's arm as they went out to the car.

"Take a note of my address," Alec broke the silence as some music was playing on the car radio. "Then you know where I live."

Why did he just say that, he then felt embarrassed at the suggestion Rose may want to even see him after tomorrow. For one, Sunday lunch may not go down well and then there was court on Monday. If the first didn't ruin any kind of relationship they had, the other one would.

They arrived at his apartment and he went to open the passenger door for her. Once inside, he offered her some tea to drink and they sat on the sofa. Rose was still flushed at the thought of what had gone on the last time she was here.

"I was being silly last time, wasn't I?" she admitted.

"On the contrary, it was only a natural progression and we could hardly continue at your place, in case your mother made an excuse to walk in on us," Alec smiled, brushing a strand of her hair back to kiss her.

Much later, Rose was laid on top of him, his shirt open and Rose's dress unzipped, her bra fastener undone and the straps halfway down her arms. Alec had managed to make her wriggle out of it as it had been hanging loose at the front so he could take advantage of feeling her next to him.

"Rose," he whispered in her ear as she lay on his bare chest and worrying she had fallen asleep.

"Mmm," Rose managed to reply, now getting comfortable on him and the nice soft spot she had found she liked.

"Do you want me to take you home?" he thought he'd best ask instead of assuming she wanted to stay there all night, not that he minded in the slightest.

"Oh. Well I think my mum half expected I'd either be really late back or stay out," Rose replied, raising her head slightly but not losing full contact with him.

"Does that mean you will stay?" he dared hope. "Rose, I would never do anything without your consent, you must know that?"

"You're really sweet Alec, do ya know that?" she remarked as she lay her head down again. "Can I borrow a t-shirt then?"

He knew she had to be smiling to herself, knowing his t-shirts would be too big for her.

"By all means, whatever you want," he replied, smiling himself at the thought he would be still able to take advantage.

"Ya know, Tess must be off her head giving you up," Rose added.

"Forget it Rose, she accused me of all kinds of things, the latest being starting an affair with you could compromise the case but it can't, you have already given your evidence."

"Do ya think it could all be over on Monday then?" Rose then wondered, making a circle on his shoulder.

"Maybe? There is nothing you can do about it except answer the questions. Unless the accused's wife turns up, it could go either way. Want me to get that t-shirt for you or were you just teasing me about wearing it?"

"Hey, don't get too far ahead of yaself," Rose laughed. "T-shirt tonight, then we'll see in the morning."

"Then I had better behave?" he teased her, trying to get her to move, mainly so he could get a better view other than of her bare shoulders.

Rose had to reluctantly move aside, trying to pull her dress up but not in time as Alec smiled at her, Rose trying not to blush.

"I have seen you before," he reminded her that before she'd settled on him he had helped pull down her bra straps.

"Sorry. I'm just gettin' used to this," Rose smiled back at him. "No point in putting my dress back on, is there?"

"Then stay here and I will get you that t-shirt," he offered.

She pulled her bra back on but decided to leave it unfastened as Alec left his shirt opened and him wondering why she'd not offered to fasten the buttons. What was the point, he supposed. It would save her time unfastening them again, which she seemed to like doing.

He went off to the bedroom, Rose still trying to get used to the fact she was actually going to stay the night with him. Maybe she'd get cold feet if he tried anything, even if she gave her consent? Why couldn't they have a bit of fun, if nothing else?

If he was disappointed at her on Monday if her testimony was dismissed, it would be no worse than breaking up after a few dates with other men, not that she'd had many dates since she'd been in town.

Alec offered her the white t-shirt as Rose pulled her bra straps down again, she had taken her dress off while he'd been away.

"I'll just go to the bathroom while you do that," he told her, in case he wasn't invited to watch her.

"I don't mean to be shy," Rose admitted, biting her bottom lip. "It's just been a while since I had a proper boyfriend."

"Rose, it is a long time since I had a girlfriend," Alec replied. "Please, don't be shy around me eh?"

"I'll try not to be. Maybe I'll feel better about it in the morning?"

"Then I hope you do. Do you want to use the bathroom first? I will wait in the bedroom for you, I will leave the door open for you."

Rose put the t-shirt on and retreated to the bathroom, making Alec smile. Now he knew why he was so taken with her. Rose quickly freshened herself up and looked at herself in the mirror. How far was she willing to let Alec go tonight? Maybe they could work up to it and clear the tension that was building up?

Alec was getting worried that she'd changed her mind and was getting dressed in the bathroom. It wouldn't be the first time a woman had run off on him, Tess being one of them after they'd first got together. He had been a young detective sergeant, Tess had been an even younger detective constable and he'd just got transferred there from Glasgow.

What had made him want to move to Sandbrook when he'd wanted to go to London, he had no idea but there were more job opportunities than in London, so he'd agreed and taken the exam for detective inspector. He had known Tess had her eye on him but he'd dated another DS for a few months but she hadn't liked being under the spotlight as Alec was about to get his promotion.

So, Tess had been happy to console him even though when he'd finally asked her out, she played it cool. Now, Tess was just jealous that he paid more attention to Rose than to her complaining about everything. Rose had given him the courage to get out while he still could, before Tess really took him down. He still didn't know how Daisy was going to react to meeting Rose though.

Maybe his daughter would find it a novelty that he was now dating a younger woman. He looked up when he heard the bathroom door opening, he'd been sitting on the edge of the bed, afraid to get undressed in case she wanted to go home after all.

"Sorry," Rose apologised for taking her time. "Did ya think I'd backed out?"

"Ah, I was unsure," he admitted. "You are still here, however. Give me a few minutes eh?"

He pulled back the duvet then went off, getting another t-shirt out of the drawer and a clean pair of shorts. Maybe he was going to lose the t-shirt when he got into bed but he had to make the gesture. Unless Rose called after him and told him not to bother with it.

Rose smiled and sat on the edge of the bed after finding a hanger for her dress, debating if she should wait for him or get in as he'd suggested. Well she'd got this far, she mused. She waited until the bathroom door closed then got in, pulling the other side of the duvet back for him. She should feel even more nervous but it was beginning to fade.

Alec got cleaned up, brushing his teeth and seeing Rose had helped herself to the toothbrush that had been in a wrapper for when Daisy decided to visit. Trust her to ask now he was seeing Rose, he thought. If all went well tonight, any fears Rose had of letting him down on Monday would maybe fade.

Rose was propped up on the pillows when he entered the bedroom, going for a hanger for his trousers and seeing Rose had hung her dress up.

"Hope it was okay to pinch that toothbrush?" Rose smiled at him as he went to the other side of the bed.

"It was a spare, in case Daisy decided to visit me. I saw her earlier and would you believe she asked when she could come over?" he replied, seeing Rose was about to laugh. "That's not funny Rose. Are you willing to meet her when we have only been together a short time?"

"Chill Alec, I don't mind, really," Rose assured him, moving towards him and putting her arm around him.

She let out a scream as he turned and pulled her on top of him, then she started laughing.

"Ya needn't have bothered with that t-shirt Alec," she teased him when they had kissed for quite a while.

"Now you tell me," Alec laughed at her starting to relax. "Are you going to help me remove it?"

He didn't want to assume she would let him help her take off the one she was wearing but after removing his, she was trying to get her arms out of it.

"Well give me a hand then," Rose giggled as she struggled.

After more kissing, Alec tried to get her on her back, which she didn't seem to mind as she looked up at him and smiled as she ran her finger down his chest.

"You are beautiful, Rose Tyler," he told her when she smiled.

"You're cute Alec," was the reply. "What do ya look like without that beard?"

"You want me to shave some or all of it off?" he wondered.

"Aw, not just for me," she teased him, putting her hand under his chin.

"Maybe I could compromise?" he teased her back. "Rose, do you trust me?"

"Yeah, I trust ya Alec or I would've gone home," she told him.

"Then if I promise to keep my shorts on?" he replied, moving his hand lower down.

Rose agreed and he ventured towards her remaining underwear, making Rose quiver at his touch. It made Alec smile as he could see her in the light from outside and he wondered if she had never been treated this way.

"Alec, ya don't have to keep ya shorts on," she whispered in his ear as he kissed her top half softly.

"Really? Are you sure?" he wanted to be certain she was giving him her consent. "Rose, I promise I will stop if you say so."

"I want to, ya know," Rose replied shyly.

"Do you want me to take the precautions?" he offered.

"Nah, I do take somethin' for other reasons than that," Rose assured him.

"You can lie on me, if you prefer," he offered further.

"Yeah, maybe at first?" Rose agreed, beginning to feel funny.

She could already feel the excitement running through her, she had never felt anything remotely like it before, she had left Mickey partly because things were getting stale between them. Now she had met Alec, she knew she didn't want to be with anyone else.

As Alec gently let her move around on him, he slowly eased her onto her back, making Rose feel even more giddy. It made him happy she was making soft moaning noises as she responded to him but he dare not go too far, it being their first time together.

He felt her shudder as he began to move away, Rose was trying to recover and calm herself. She didn't want to show herself up but it was out of her control.

"Rose? Are you okay?" Alec then wondered as she just lay there as he moved onto his side. "Was it okay?"

"Alec, it was more than okay," Rose replied, putting her hand on his shoulder to move towards him.

He put his arm around her waist to steady her.

"I was afraid I wasn't okay," she then admitted.

"Rose, you did everything right," he assured her.

"Alec, I don't want to be with anyone else, not now," she told him. "Are we now a couple? I mean can I say you're my boyfriend?"

"We still have to be careful, for now," he replied, going to kiss her neck. "We can tell your mother tomorrow though maybe not that we just had sex for the first time eh?" he then laughed.

Rose let out a laugh, telling her mother Alec was her boyfriend was enough for now.

"Where's my underwear?" Rose suddenly asked him, feeling she should run to the bathroom before she did embarrass herself.

"Ah, somewhere down the bottom of the bed?" Alec suggested. "Had enough for tonight?"

"Nah but I have to go to the bathroom," Rose replied. "Pass me the t-shirt then," she added, thinking she'd have to make do with that.

He passed it to her and retrieved his own shorts from the headboard.

"You could have worn my t-shirt," he then offered as she went off in a hurry.

He had to smile to himself, she had most certainly not had a sexual encounter quite like that before if she didn't know what was happening to her was a natural reaction to what had just taken place. Should he tell her? It wouldn't have been fair to assume she would have gone further without him asking her first.

By her reaction, she seemed to have enjoyed the feelings he had just given her and her him. Now, he really felt wanted again. Rose was trying to recover in the bathroom, wondering what it would have been like had Alec not stopped when he did.

Maybe they should work their way up to that, she decided, knowing he was waiting for her going back. She had to smile when he was sat up in bed and was offering to give her underwear back. She shook her head and laughed and he put them back on the pillow.

"Did you mean what you said Rose?" he wanted to be certain. "The part when you said you did not want to be with anyone else?"

"Yeah, I meant it Alec. Why would I now?" she replied, getting comfortable on him.

She smiled when he put his other arm around her as she put her hand on his chest.

"You mean a great deal to me," he admitted. "Rose, please don't run away if things go wrong on Monday."

"Alec, it's gonna be really tough," Rose reminded him.

"I know Rose but just remember, I care about you, a lot."

"I know ya do Alec and I care a lot about you as well," she replied. "Are you gonna tell my mum about us or should I?" she then teased him.

"I suppose it should be me," he admitted, wondering if she was joking.

She reached up to kiss him, Alec making out a smile on her face. He was up first the next morning, after managing to move Rose, who was sprawled out and he woke her up by bringing her some tea.

"Rose, breakfast is almost ready," he said as he tried to wake her.

She didn't stir so he tried running his finger up and down her arm. She tried to waft him away but he persisted, Alec wondering if he should try the same with her leg. That made her jump as she opened her eyes.

"Good morning Rose," he smiled at her.

"Hi Alec, come back here," she waggled her finger at him.

"Then let me delay breakfast?" he suggested, keen to have a repeat of the night before.

He was back in a few minutes, glad he'd not put the bread in the toaster yet. Now, he could see her in the daylight, he thought she was even more lovely. Eventually, they had a quick breakfast before setting off to where Rose lived with her mother.

"How do you think she will react?" Alec was getting worried at them telling Jackie they were now a couple as they got nearer.

Jackie though wasn't that surprised when Rose had failed to go home the night before.

"Well I'm glad ya admitting it," Jackie told Alec, Rose remaining with her arm in his. "Ya'd better look after her."

"I will Jackie, I promise," Alec told her. "Once the court case is over, we won't have to keep it quiet."

Lunch went well, then after offering to clear up, Rose and Alec went off after Rose threw a few things in an overnight bag. Alec said she should return home the following morning to get changed for the court.

"Will it be okay for us to arrive together at the court?" Rose was worried.

"I will say I was escorting you," Alec replied. "Try not to worry eh?"

They were sat in a pub garden by the river, Rose getting a large fruit cocktail that Alec thought had more than enough pieces of fruit on top.

"Need a spoon for that?" he teased her as she picked out a slice of apple.

"Nope, I'm fine, thanks," Rose replied.

He wished she wouldn't make eating a slice of apple a work of art. She was going to take some keeping up with, now she was officially his girlfriend. He would have made her his girlfriend even if nothing had happened last night. He still hoped staying out of the spotlight was going to pay off in the morning.

Chapter 13

Alec was slightly disappointed Rose said she should stay home that night but knew it was maybe for the best. He stayed until late then got up to leave, Jackie having retreated to her room as they didn't want to watch the same TV programmes.

"It's for the best," Alec tried to assure Rose as they kissed goodnight, though it had been Rose's idea. "I will take you to the court tomorrow."

"Yeah, I don't think I'll sleep tonight," Rose agreed. "Last night was really special Alec."

"You had no trouble sleeping on me last night," Alec smiled.

Rose blushed. "What can I say?" she teased him, going to straighten his tie.

He had only recently begun to leave his tie like that. It seemed Rose liked to adjust it when she wasn't trying to unbutton his shirt.

"I had best go," Alec made her snap out of it. "Try to get some sleep eh?"

Rose nodded as she let go of him. They got to the door, Rose trying to delay him by one more kiss.

"When this is over, there will be no need for us to hide," Alec reminded her.

"Yeah, can't wait then," Rose agreed. "See ya in the morning."

Once Alec had left and her mother heard the door closing, she went to join Rose in the kitchen.

"Do ya want me to go with ya tomorrow?" Jackie offered. "I can cancel my appointments."

"No Mum, don't do that," Rose insisted.

"Are ya afraid ya'll mess up?" Jackie asked, filling the kettle with water.

"I don't want to let Alec down but I don't want to let Pippa down either. I wish I could talk about it Mum."

"Pippa always seemed to be happy," Jackie recalled. "Poor kid. She must've been scared of something if ya ask me."

Rose gave in and went to bed to try to sleep, sending Alec a message and getting one back that he wished she was with him. He had thought of calling her but decided it was best he didn't. If things went badly in court, last night could have been the first and last time they had been together.

He lay with his hands under his head, going back not that long ago when Rose had asked if he remembered her from when she used to do Tess's hair. Rose being there in the house where he used to live should have given him a clue at the time what Tess was up to.

Now, he wished he'd taken more notice of Rose's visits. They were both up early the next morning, Jackie fussing over Rose.

"Just answer the questions," Jackie advised her.

"I know that Mum," Rose laughed nervously.

Before Rose knew it, Alec was ringing the doorbell, having let himself in downstairs when Rose had text the code. Rose wasn't making a move so Jackie got up from the kitchen table.

"Come in then," Jackie greeted him. "Want a cup of tea?"

Alec thought he'd best agree so as not to offend her.

"That would be good, thank you," he told her. "How's Rose?"

"Nervous, what do ya think?" Jackie laughed as he followed her into the kitchen.

"Alec," Rose greeted him as she got up and went to him.

She let him put his arms around her, ignoring looks from her mother.

"Okay?" he asked her as he kissed her cheek and indicated for her to sit down.

"If you two wanna talk, I'll leave," Jackie suggested.

"No, it's fine," Alec assured her. "We should not discuss what will take place today, Rose knows what she is up against."

"Yeah, I know," Rose agreed. "Nothing's gonna change my mind about telling what went on with Pippa. I owe her that much. I just wish ya could find Lisa, she could hold all the answers."

"I know, she would change everything. Rose, the suspect's wife may still turn up today, if she has changed her mind," Alec told her, not wanting to get her hopes up by too much. "We should set off in plenty of time, to find somewhere to park and for the prosecution to talk to you. Remember, you are there as their witness, don't let the defence put you off."

Rose was hoping the defence wouldn't bother, there was no way she was changing anything about what she saw or heard at the Gillespie house before Pippa was killed.

"I still can't forget when I heard what happened to Pippa," Rose admitted. "To be one of the few people who had seen her the day before."

Alec put his hand on her shoulder. They sat silently, drinking their tea then Alec suggested they made a move. Twenty minutes later, Rose was sat next to him, people bustling around going into different courtrooms and not even daring to hold his hand.

"We have to wait here until you are called," Alec whispered to her as the prosecution came towards them.

"Miss Tyler?" Rose was asked as she jumped up at their approach. "I'm Jocelyn Knight, please sit."

Alec moved over to let the woman sit to talk to Rose.

"You have nothing to worry about in there," Ms Knight assured her, nodding to the door they were facing. "It shouldn't be long before you're called."

"Can DI Hardy come in with me?" Rose asked nervously.

"Yes, he's already given evidence but try not to make it look like you know each other," Rose was advised.

Alec knew Ms Knight was already onto them, so they had to be extra careful once inside.

"Just answer my questions and recall your conversations with Pippa, that it made you worried enough to come forward and testify on her behalf, which is what I will tell the court. Don't let the defence twist your words," Ms Knight warned Rose.

Rose was now worrying even more what she'd got herself into. The barrister went off after nodding to Alec, who moved a bit closer to Rose but not by too much. Rose just wanted him to squeeze her hand in assurance but knew he daren't.

"You will be fine," Alec assured her as people went inside the courtroom when parties interested in the case were called.

"Should you go in now?" Rose wondered as she looked around the almost empty hallway.

"No, my chief just went inside though I am surprised Tess is not here," Alec half smiled.

"Couldn't she face me?" Rose tried to joke. "Is she that bothered by me?"

"Somewhat. She may turn up at some point if things are not over by lunchtime. You may have to wait, depending what else is brought up before what you heard," Alec warned her.

Rose was somewhat relieved she didn't have to go inside and listen to the arguments.

"I take it that Claire hasn't gone in then?" Rose asked him.

"No and be careful not to use her name when you are questioned about Pippa's neighbours. Did Cate ever mention her?" Alec wanted to know.

"Yeah, once or twice, well Pippa did as well I think. I won't mention it then," Rose replied.

"Just repeat what Pippa told you, you will be fine," Alec assured her.

Rose just hoped he was right as she waited. Over an hour went by before the doors opened and the court usher came out and called Rose inside. Alec got up and indicated for Rose to go first.

"Are you accompanying the witness?" Alec was asked as Rose went ahead, another usher waiting to escort her to the witness box.

"Yes," Alec replied confidently, wanting to follow Rose but she was being led off.

"Take a seat," the usher suggested, indicating to the back seating where everyone was already squashed up.

Then his chief, who was seated near the witness box waved him over, the seat next to him vacant. Alec went over and joined the man.

"I saw you waiting with your witness Alec," the chief told him. "Be careful."

"I am being careful," Alec objected as Rose was being sworn in as a witness.

The court was hushed and everyone focused on poor Rose. The judge was peering over his rimmed glasses.

"Your witness, Ms Knight," the judge prompted Jocelyn.

"My Lord," Jocelyn bowed as she got up. "Miss Tyler, you say you met Pippa Gillespie on several occasions. What made you worried enough to come forward after she died?"

Rose was trying not to look to see where Alec was, she had to do this on her own. As she tried to find her voice, Alec was covering his face, hoping she wouldn't refuse to speak up now.

"Answer the question Miss Tyler," Rose was reminded.

She couldn't let Pippa or Alec down now, Rose thought as she remained standing. She began by saying how she met Pippa at her house and what Cate had warned the girl about going next door. Of course the defence had to object.

"Your Honour, by saying going next door, the girl's mother could have meant either side, not only where my client lived."

Ms Knight got up again, a slight grin on her face as the judge peered down at them.

"Your Honour, the defence cannot substantiate that claim, if they had done research, they would have found the house Pippa lived in and the defendant's house were semi-detached. There was no other side."

"Quite, Ms Knight," the judge had to agree as the usher handed him a sketch of the two houses. "Please stick to the facts," he told the defence.

Rose tried not to smile and say that told them. She was told to continue.

"Pippa's mother mentioned someone called Claire lived next door and that she was also a hairdresser," Rose recalled. "Pippa was outside as I was leaving once, she seemed upset and I asked what was wrong. She said her mother didn't like her going next door and she didn't know why."

"Your Honour, does that not prove the girl was warned to stay away from the neighbour's house?" Ms Knight addressed the judge then turned towards the jury. "Miss Tyler, did you hear anything further of the warning?" she asked Rose.

"Yeah, the day before Cate Gillespie was going to a wedding. Lisa, Pippa's cousin was there when I arrived and mentioned Pippa's mother didn't trust those next door," Rose replied. "Then Pippa wanted to go out on her bike and they were both told not to go there."

"Thank you Miss Tyler. No further questions at this time, Your Honour," Ms knight seemed pleased at getting her point across.

The defence wasted no time getting up and asking Rose the dreaded question.

"Miss Tyler, you only mentioned one neighbour," Rose was reminded.

"I wasn't asked about anyone else," Rose replied. "Pippa said her mother didn't like her going next door, especially when someone called Lee was there."

The defence tried not to look embarrassed. Rose thought well, she did ask. The defence recovered however, catching Rose out.

"Miss Tyler, did you ever meet any of the neighbours?"

Rose was about to ask 'What?' but thought better of it.

"Well no, I always went to do Cate Gillespie's hair late afternoon," Rose began to explain.

"So, you never knew why Pippa was warned never to go to the neighbour's house then?" Rose was then asked. "Was there any indication that it was a warning and not just a girl being told not to bother those living next door?"

Rose tried to look at Alec, who was trying not to listen to the murmurings around the courtroom and putting his hands over his face again.

"Answer the question Miss Tyler," the judge told her again.

"Sorry, Your Honour," Rose replied quietly. "It sounded like a warning."

"It only sounded like a warning?" the defence repeated Rose's words.

"Well Pippa was upset about it," Rose reminded the court.

"She seemed upset to you?" the defence almost laughed, looking around to see the reaction of everyone present. "Did it not occur to you it was just a child's tantrum that she couldn't get her own way?"

"No, it didn't," Rose replied bravely.

"Miss Tyler, be careful," the judge warned her.

Rose thought he should be telling that to the defence, not her. She had looked around enough to see that Cate wasn't present, thankfully.

"Miss Tyler, I put it to you that all you heard was a mother trying to spare the neighbours from being pestered by a young girl all the time. It has been mentioned that the girl was allowed next door by invitation at weekends with her parents. Did you hear Pippa's mother telling her to stay in?"

"Well no," Rose had to admit.

The defence was looking too pleased with herself, Alec was thinking.

"Your honour, if it pleases the court, I find Miss Tyler's testimony nothing more than speculation that the girl was badly done to and that Pippa was just putting on an act in front of her in order to gain sympathy."

There were more murmurings around the courtroom. Then the prosecution stood up and objected, the judge banging the gavel to regain order.

"I must object, Your Honour. The witness is merely stating what she heard the times she visited the Gillespie house in the course of her job as a hairdresser. She was worried for the girl but was not able to say anything for fear of losing a client and had to assume it was for the girl's welfare," Ms Knight declared. "Miss Tyler had no reason to suspect the girl was in any kind of danger at the time."

"So noted, Ms Knight," the judge agreed as he scribbled something on the large pad in front of him. "Is that so, Miss Tyler?" he turned to ask Rose, looking over his specs.

"I was worried about Pippa, Your Honour," Rose admitted. "I was one of the few people to see her the day before she was killed. I was upset when I heard, I felt I had to say something to the police."

"Quite," the judge mumbled. "You may step down if there are no more questions."

Rose got down from the witness box but headed straight for the door, the usher getting up to open it for her. Alec was well and truly stuck, hoping Rose was only going to the drinks machine and would wait for him. Rose was looking for change to get some coffee, not having thought about it when she'd set off earlier.

"Order," the judge shouted above the growing noise.

"What do you think Alec?" the chief was now asking him.

"I did warn her what it would be like," Alec managed to reply.

"I'm sure you did," the chief replied before the judge began to speak again.

"Ms Knight, do you wish to call anyone else?" he wanted to know.

"No, Your Honour, that concludes the case for the prosecution," Jocelyn sounded disappointed Alec thought.

He was sure more questions should have been asked but it seemed no-one was interested in what Rose had to tell.

"Very well," the judge spoke again. "You may begin your closing speech," he told her.

While that was going on, Rose was debating if she should leave but Alec would be worried about her. She didn't feel
like going back inside, to have everyone staring at her. Why had she got caught up in all this?

Jocelyn Knight was finishing her speech.

"One thing you can be sure of," she was addressing the jury. "Pippa Gillespie had the misfortune to be tempted to go to the neighbours house that Saturday night, with or without her cousin and her mother's permission. Remember, ladies and gentlemen of the jury where the poor girl was found, in the river. You have heard all the evidence against the man standing before you who is accused of killing her so if you believe that is true, then you should find him guilty."

Alec was hoping that would be enough to find the smug looking Lee Ashworth sitting facing the judge guilty. The court was dismissed for lunch so Alec scrambled past those taking their time going out and spotted Rose sitting waiting.

"Rose, are you okay?" he asked her, wanting to hug her.

Rose shrugged her shoulders.

"I suppose so. What happened when I left?"

"Just the closing speech for the prosecution. It will be the turn of the defence when the court returns from lunch. Come and get something to eat," Alec suggested.

They found a coffee shop nearby and Rose picked at the sandwich Alec had bought her.

"Rose, there is no point in worrying," he reminded her. "You did your best in there."

"Did I?" Rose wondered. "I wish I'd done more for Pippa. Why didn't I say anything?"

"To who? Rose, there was nothing you could have done. Yes, you were worried but interfering could have meant Cate no longer required your services and you may not have seen Pippa on that day," he reminded her.

He looked up when the door opened and saw the chief looking around then stand by the table.

"Join us?" Alec offered.

"No, you two carry on. You did quite well in there Miss Tyler, as it was your first time in court," he told her.

"I was terrified," Rose admitted. "I hope I never have to do it again. I hope it did some good."

"We'll soon find out," the chief assured her.

That was what Alec was dreading. They finished and while Rose went to the ladies room, Alec joined the chief, who was also about to leave.

"Rose feels like she didn't do enough," Alec admitted.

"Let's hope it was enough Alec," the chief replied as Rose emerged and was looking for Alec.

They got back with a few minutes to spare, passing those who were standing around as Alec spotted two seats across the other side. The courtroom seemed fuller than it had been earlier.

"Why are there more people than earlier?" Rose wanted to know.

"There is always more interest when a verdict is imminent," Alec explained. "I don't expect it will take the jury long to decide, hopefully with the right decision."

The court resumed, everyone listening to the defence.

"And furthermore, my client denies seeing the girl on the night in question and certainly did not put the girl in his car to dispose of her, despite the police allegedly finding the girl's pendant, which they cannot prove since the evidence has not been produced."

That was it, it was all over, Alec knew as Rose reached for his hand. He now didn't care if anyone saw them or not as the jury were told to begin their deliberations after the court erupted again. He had been hoping all this time that the pendant wouldn't be mentioned but they'd not got away with it at the end.

The defence had even speculated that if the police had found a pendant in the defendant's car, there was no proof it had even belonged to Pippa. Rose remained where she was as everyone including Alec got up.

"Rose? What's wrong?" he wanted to know as people passed them.

"I saw Pippa's pendant, on the bedroom floor when I went to use the bathroom. I just realised. It's too late now," she admitted.

"Don't worry eh?" Alec encouraged her, thinking the damage had already been done by Tess, who if she'd not been fooling around would have delivered the pendant to the crime lab and it would have proved it was Pippa's.

Chapter 14

The courtroom was cleared, people were gathering outside after refraining from smoking inside and Alec had gone to the drinks machine again, Rose having found room to sit down.

"Rose, what you said in there," Alec lowered his voice. "If new compelling evidence is produced, there may be a chance we can re-open the case."

"It doesn't prove anything other than it was Pippa's," Rose replied sadly.

"If we could find it again, her mother could identify it again and Pippa had it on that morning. That would prove he was lying about it," Alec told her, not mentioning Lee Ashworth. "I thought we would get away with not producing it," he then smiled as someone next to them moved away.

"Yeah, that was a bit sneaky, leaving it until last," Rose joked, finishing her coffee.

"That is a tactic the defence uses often," Alec recalled.

He let go of her hand as the chief approached them.

"No point in hiding now Alec," the chief smiled. "There's nothing we can do now but wait to see which way it goes. Don't feel bad about it Miss Tyler, you did your best in there."

"Thanks. I feel like I let ya down."

"You did no such thing," the chief insisted.

"I already told her that," Alec agreed, taking Rose's hand again.

"So, we just wait around then?" Rose looked around.

No-one was taking any notice as they sat together, the chief wandering off and leaving them alone.

Two hours later, they were back in court again, waiting for the judge to call the jury back in.

"Have you reached a verdict?" the court clerk asked the appointed spokesperson.

Rose squeezed Alec's hand tightly, not wanting to hear the result.

"We, the jury find the defendant, Lee Ashworth not guilty of killing Pippa Gillespie."

The court erupted as the judge tried to restore order after the same man was asked if that was the verdict of them all.

"Lee Ashworth," the judge addressed the accused. "You have been found not guilty, you are free to leave the court."

"If his wife had just given evidence," Alec was furious.

"She made her choice Alec," the chief reminded him. "Who knows, she may change her mind one day."

Rose suddenly let go of Alec's hand and ran towards the door. Alec was up like a shot, trying to catch up with her but was hindered by everyone else leaving plus the courtroom next door was just emptying so it was difficult. He could just about see her going outside but by the time he got out, she was being driven off in a taxi.

He knew she would be going home so he went to retrieve his car, getting caught as everyone else was trying to get out. He banged his fists on the car steering wheel, wondering if Rose would answer her phone if he tried to call her. There was still a queue to get out so using the car's built-in hands-free kit, he pressed Rose's number after squinting at the screen.

He thought about when Rose had once laughed at him squinting at his phone as he let it ring but she wasn't picking up. Rose could hear her phone in her bag but she knew it would be Alec, wondering what had made her rush out. It had all been for nothing as she heard that the man who had almost certainly killed the young girl she had sort of befriended was to walk free.

How did he get to do that, she had asked herself as she told the taxi driver where she was going.

"Everything okay Miss?" he asked Rose.

"What? Oh, yeah, just in a bit of a rush, that's all," Rose bluffed.

The driver could see she didn't want to talk so when she arrived outside, she was thankful she had some cash on her and she was soon in the apartment. She knew it was likely Alec would follow her but what could she say to him? She got the nerve up to send him a message – 'Please don't call me or come round. Rose.'

Alec saw he had a message and was almost where she lived. He pulled into the driveway just as Jackie was getting out of a cab.

"What are you doing here?" Jackie asked him as he parked in a visitors spot. "Where's Rose?"

"Jackie. Have you heard from her? She ran out of the court before I could stop her," he explained as Jackie put the code in the door.

"What did she do that for?" Jackie wanted to know as she assumed Alec was going to follow her. "Have you two fallen out?" she asked as she pressed for the lift.

"What? No, not as far as I know," he replied as he got in the lift and remembered he had an unread message.

He was surprised when he read it.

"Is that from Rose?" he was asked as the lift stopped.

He followed Jackie out then stood by the lift doors.

"She doesn't want me to call her or see her," he revealed sadly.

"She never!" Jackie couldn't believe it since Rose seemed very keen on the detective despite him being in charge of the case she was giving evidence in. "Why did she say that? Let me talk to her, she'll come round. So, did it go badly?" she asked as she got her key out.

"You could say that," Alec replied, following her and not taking any notice they were at the apartment door. "He walked free Jackie, despite our best efforts."

"Well if ya ask me, he should've been locked up for a long time, that poor kid," Jackie stopped as she put the key in the lock. "So Rose speakin' up did no good then?"

"No, I'm afraid not," Alec told her. "Can you speak to Rose for me? Ask her if I can talk to her?"

"Well ya'd best come in then, I don't want the neighbours being nosy," Jackie laughed as the door opened. "Rose, I'm home and Alec's here," she shouted as Alec closed the door behind him.

She indicated for Alec to go in the kitchen while she knocked on Rose's bedroom door.

"Rose, are ya coming out?" Jackie called out again.

Rose opened her room door slightly.

"What did ya let Alec in for Mum?"

"Speak to him Rose, don't be silly," her mother told her. "What's he supposed to have done then?"

"Nothing. It was me Mum, I let him down and the killer walked free," Rose admitted.

"Don't say that sweetheart," Jackie told her.

"Well it's true Mum," Rose admitted. "I didn't do any good."

"Well what's that got to do with Alec?" her mother was still puzzled. "Talk to him while he's here will ya?"

"I can't Mum, tell him I'm sorry," Rose replied, trying to close the door.

Jackie gave in and went back to Alec.

"It's no good, she won't talk to ya," Jackie told him as he got up. "Give her time Alec, she'll come round," she encouraged him.

"Tell her she didn't let me down, please Jackie," Alec replied, risking still calling her by her first name.

He thought no doubt she would correct him if she thought he was out of place.

"I'll tell her when she comes round," Jackie promised, filling the kettle with water. "Want some tea?"

He thought he'd better not refuse and Rose may come out, even if it was only to see if he had left.

"Thank you. She was out of the courtroom so fast," he told Jackie. "It could have gone either way when the jury went out but the defence tried to trick Rose."

"Well that explains it then," Jackie turned to tell him. "That poor kid though, I can't imagine what Cate's going through. When I used to do her hair, Pippa would come home from school and was always happy."

"Did Rose tell you that she was one of the last people to see Pippa, before she was killed?" Alec asked.

"Oh, she might have done," Jackie tried to remember. "No wonder she's so upset then?"

"I tried to convince Rose that it was important that she spoke up, that Pippa was worried about something," Alec admitted. "Did Cate ever tell Pippa not to go to the neighbour's house?"

"Blimey, I can't remember," Jackie laughed as the kettle turned off. "Is that what Rose heard?"

"Yes, a few times. Cate was warning both Pippa and Lisa, the day before Pippa was killed. That was why I was so sure it was the neighbour who was responsible. It sounded like Cate didn't trust them."

"Can't say I met them," Jackie recalled, putting a mug of tea in front of Alec. "It was funny how Lisa disappeared."

"We are still investigating," Alec told her. "I know it's been hard on Rose."

"Yeah but ya helped her Alec, I don't get how she run off on ya," Jackie replied.

Since Rose was still refusing to come out of her room, Alec had to give in and leave, Jackie promising she would talk to her daughter again when he'd gone. She knocked on Rose's door again, a mug of hot tea in her other hand.

"Rose, Alec's gone," Jackie called out. "Don't know why ya were bothering to hide from him," she added as the door opened slightly.

"I can't face him Mum. All the time sat waiting for the verdict, I got this awful feeling that man was gonna get off," Rose admitted.

"Ya should've told Alec then," Jackie replied. "Are ya gonna have somethin' to eat?"

Rose didn't feel like eating but she was hungry so she went to help prepare something.

"Ya know Alec cares about ya," Jackie reminded her. "He won't think any less of ya."

"I don't know Mum? He must be mad over that man walkin' free," Rose told her.

"Yeah, maybe Rose but he won't be mad at you," her mother tried to convince her.

Alec went home, disappointed not because Rose thought she had let him down, she hadn't but disappointed at the fact twelve jurors had been swayed into thinking Ashworth was innocent just because there was no physical evidence to tie him to Pippa's death.

Now he thought about it, even if the pendant had been entered into evidence, no doubt they would have been talked into believing that the item could have been left in the car at any time. That was now up for debate but Rose was now more important to him.

He'd give her a few days to come round then try calling her again, he wasn't prepared to just let her go, he had to convince her she could never let him down. That was going to be easier said than done as he waited until Friday morning.

He'd tried calling her on Wednesday evening but got no answer and he'd not wanted to bother Jackie again. So getting to work, he decided he was going to call for her that night and see if she would talk to him. If not, he was going to tell her he would wait for her.

Rose hadn't made any appointments and Jackie was getting worried the day after the court hearing when Rose wasn't getting ready to leave so she confronted her the following morning.

"I'm gonna give up mobile hairdressing Mum," Rose informed her at breakfast. "I've been thinkin' about it since Pippa. I can't face makin' friends with someone else's kid."

"I understand, really Rose," Jackie told her. "You do what ya think's best. What do ya think about going back to London though? Forget about what happened here?"

"How are we gonna do that?" Rose wanted to know.

"I can call and see who can put us up while we find somewhere," Jackie suggested.

"I don't know Mum? I'll have to get another job and we'll have to save up," Rose replied.

"Well, we'll do that then," Jackie agreed. "What about Alec though? I was only thinkin' about me goin' back to be honest but if ya wanna come as well?"

"I can't let ya go back on ya own," Rose was surprised.

"Well I thought ya'd maybe wanna stay with him?" Jackie admitted.

"Well it's too late now Mum," Rose replied sadly. "I've been ignoring him when he called earlier."

"What ya do that for?" her mother wanted to know. "Let me talk to him next time."

"Don't Mum, it's too late now," Rose urged her.

Alec waited but when Rose didn't answer her phone or she had called him, he left work early and drove to her apartment. He was greeted by Jackie when he'd let himself in downstairs.

"She's not here Alec," he was told as Jackie opened the door.

"I thought her car was down in the driveway?" Alec replied.

"She got another job, she started yesterday," Jackie admitted.

"What? Why did she do that?" he asked.

"Ya need to ask her that yaself," Jackie told him as she kept him at the door. "I'll try and get her to call ya when she gets back."

"Jackie, I really need to see her," Alec admitted. "Please ask her to call me. I don't understand how she is blaming herself for what happened. Do you know why she gave up her mobile job?"

"Can ya blame her?" Jackie asked him. "She knew that poor kid and she blames herself for not doing anything about it before Pippa was killed."

Alec already knew that, the guilt must have been building up and Lee Ashworth walking free had finally broken her. Now, he needed to see her more than ever. She didn't have to go through it on her own.

"Can you tell Rose not to blame herself?" Alec then asked.

"I'll try," Jackie promised. "I can't tell ya where she's workin' but it's in town, near the supermarket. Don't go telling her I let on."

"Thanks Jackie, I may just catch her if I leave now. Is there a bus stop nearby?"

"She may have left by now, why don't ya wait around the corner for her?" Jackie suggested, hoping Rose would see some sense and that Alec cared for her.

"I will do that then," Alec agreed. "I will leave my car here, she may not want to speak to me."

"I think she will, she's had enough time to think about it," Jackie laughed.

"I hope you're right," Alec replied.

Rose was just leaving her new job. She'd got on fairly well, given that she'd not worked in a salon before. During her break, the owner had called her into what passed as the office.

"How are you getting on Rose?" Roxanne had asked her. "We don't stand on formality, everyone knows who's the boss around here," the woman laughed. "Any problems, you come and see me or Barbara if I'm not here but you seem to be picking up things?"

"Yeah, it's just gettin' used to things," Rose agreed. "Thanks for takin' me on at short notice."

"Well, you've got the qualifications and I'd only just advertised the job," Roxanne laughed. "I'm a bit curious why you left your mobile business though?"

"Personal reasons mainly," Rose admitted. "I got myself involved with something and I don't want a repeat. It was my mum who started it off and we were doin' well."

"Well you might find a few things different here but you have your own chair and bookings are spread evenly unless a client asks for someone. You seem to have made a good impression so far."

"Thanks. Best get back to work then?" Rose had smiled.

So now, she was heading to get the bus home but thought she may risk bringing the car as Roxanne said she parked her car all day with no problems. She would have to see how much difference there was paying bus fare or running the car. She didn't really need her own transport any more, she couldn't go back to visiting clients and seeing young kids there, it would be too much.

She was about to get off the bus and saw someone waiting nearby and she realised it was Alec. Her heart started to pound as the bus came to a stop.

"Hello Rose," Alec greeted her as he stepped forward.

Rose just stood, not knowing what to say as the bus went off.

"What are ya doin' here Alec? Did my mum tell ya what time I got home?" Rose wanted to know.

"Yes but at my insistence. Don't blame her Rose," he told her. "I wanted to talk to you, do you want to go inside or sit in my car?"

"I'd rather go inside Alec," Rose insisted. "What is there to talk about? I let ya down."

Alec stopped. She still thought she was to blame.

"Please Rose, you are in no way to blame," he tried to tell her.

They carried on around the corner and Rose let them in the building.

"Your mother said you had quit your job. I think I know why," he told her as the lift doors opened.

"I couldn't face going to another house where there were kids," Rose admitted. "Poor Pippa wanted to go to the neighbours' house all the time and look how it ended."

As they got out of the lift, Alec was determined he was going to make her feel better about it.

"It was down to Cate," he reminded her. "Pippa and Lisa did not heed her warning, they saw no danger and Lisa probably had a crush on Lee Ashworth. Rose, I can't go into details, with Lisa still being missing but trust me, he played a big part in luring the girls into the house."

Rose didn't want to be reminded of Cate's warnings to the two girls.

"You know he killed Pippa," Rose told him. "You just couldn't prove it."

"Yes, I know it was him and his wife would have helped prove it. Rose, she let me down, not you. Please don't shut me out, you know how I feel about you."

"I thought it was me who let ya down? In the courtroom, it was all too much, seeing him look so smug at gettin' off," Rose told him.

Alec held his arms out and she went towards him. After they kissed for a few minutes, Rose let them into the apartment, where Jackie was waiting for them.

"I hope you two have made up?" she asked with her arms folded.

"I think we have," Alec smiled. "Have we Rose?"

Jackie went to make another drink and left them to talk.

"So are you going to tell me where you work? Only I could do with a haircut," Alec joked.

"I'd be too embarrassed if ya walked in and asked for me," Rose blushed.

"I'm sure you'll get over it love," he laughed.

Jackie made something to eat then Rose took Alec to her room.

"We have a lot to talk about Rose," he reminded her as they kissed. "There may be some trouble now, from Pippa's parents but I don't want to get you involved. If Cate contacts you, refer her to me and hang up."

"Okay, if ya think that's best," Rose agreed. "What kind of trouble Alec?"

"Don't worry about it, I will deal with it love but if things get out of hand, I don't want them seeking you out. I was seriously thinking of going somewhere to forget about it. Rose, I want you to think of going with me?"

"I can't leave mum," Rose told him.

"I did not mean for you to," he assured her.

"Mum was on about goin' back to London," Rose then remembered.

"Will you go with her, or come with me?" he asked her.

Rose got up, not wanting to have to choose.

"She thought I'd want to stay here, with you," she admitted.

"Then stay with me, please Rose?"

A few weeks later, Rose had moved her things into Alec's apartment and Jackie was getting ready to leave. One of her old friends had come down in a van to help her move and she was going to stay with relatives until she got her own place.

Rose and Alec were there on the Saturday morning to see her off.

"When we move somewhere, ya can come and visit," Rose promised.

"Yes Jackie, if things go well, I will get the transfer I put in for. Rose wants to move to the coast, for some reason," Alec smiled.

"Can't think why," Jackie laughed, giving him a hug. "I'll be back for the wedding, don't you worry."

"Wedding?" Rose repeated. "What wedding? Were ya planning on saying something Alec?" she turned to him.

"Well eventually," he recovered from Jackie's hug.

"You think you're so clever, Alec Hardy," Rose laughed. "Well when ya think it's time, you only have to ask. Just one thing though."

"What's that?" he asked as Jackie got in the van.

"You get a transfer to the seaside, promise?"

"I promise love, now wave goodbye to your mother," he suggested. "Where exactly to you want to move to?"

"Well, I was reading about this little seaside town in Dorset," Rose admitted.

"Dorset?" Alec wanted to make sure.

"Yeah, it was in a programme me and mum used to watch."

"Was that actor you like in it?" Alec teased her, now she'd admitted it was someone who slightly resemble himself.

"No, stop it," Rose laughed as she hit his arm playfully.

"You should not have admitted who it was," Alec laughed back.

"Can't have any secrets from you, can I?" Rose replied as she got in the car.

"No love. Now, we should go meet Daisy, since you have the day off."

That was something Rose was going to have to get used to, if Alec was serious about getting married some day but until then, they were happy enough. She was still sad that Lisa hadn't been found and that Pippa had no justice for what happened to her but she trusted that some day, Alec would get it for her and put the guilty man behind bars.

The End!

All I want for Christmas

2021-12-29T11:16:00.017-08:00

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Rose Tyler goes off on a mission the week before Christmas but something goes wrong and she is injured and found on Broadchurch beach with no recollection other than her name is Rose and was travelling with a man called The Doctor. Alec Hardy tries to piece things together and help her find out who she is and where she belongs.

Chapter 1

There was just another week to Christmas but of course, there were signs coming from the re-vamped dimension cannon that Rose's original world could be reached. Mickey had volunteered to go but Rose always got sentimental the same time every year.

So, they were debating it in Pete's office, Pete warning Rose that her mother wouldn't be pleased.

"Dad, if I had to please mum, I'd never go anywhere," Rose told him, getting a grin from Mickey, who remembered what Jackie used to be like.

"Then take Mickey with you," Pete insisted.

"Ya know we don't get along when we go together," Rose reminded him.

"That's because you want to take charge," Mickey reminded her.

"Yeah, too right," Rose huffed. "No Dad, I want to go on my own."

"I shouldn't let either of you go," Pete tried to convince them. "Well okay Rose but any signs it's not your world, activate the return trigger, understand?"

"Ya know I will," Rose replied, getting one up on Mickey. "Has that setting for getting transferred to another site been updated?"

"Mickey?" Pete asked, since he knew Rose was in a huff with her ex boyfriend.

"It's been improved, so Jake reckons," Mickey answered, not looking directly at Rose.

"Just don't stay away too long," Pete added. "Shame we don't have a setting for getting back just after you left," he then joked.

"If ya think about it, I suppose the time differences wouldn't be taken into account," Rose replied.

"What time differences?" Mickey wanted to know.

Rose glanced sideways at him, not deeming to answer.

"What's wrong with you two?" Pete wondered.

"Nothing Dad," Rose replied as she got up. "I'll let Jake know I'm going first thing in the morning."

"Are you telling your mother?" Pete teased her.

"She'll find out one way or another," Rose told him. "I'd best face her."

She was regretting it when she got home and her mother questioned her decision.

"I could finally find him Mum," Rose defended herself. "Ya know I've been disappointed in the past."

"Yeah, ya could be disappointed again," Jackie pointed out. "Promise me you'll be careful and get back in time."

"Don't worry so much Mum, I'll be back before ya know it," Rose assured Jackie.

In the police station in Broadchurch, Ellie Miller was trying not to look bored. A few more days to go, then she was taking some well earned leave but not so sure she could spend it all with her father. Now she knew why Lucy had moved away to be nearer Olly.

She turned around and saw Hardy was pretending to be working, to which she thought he was more busy wondering why his daughter was leaving in the morning to spend the holidays with her mother. She got up and tapped on his office door after debating if she should invite him for Christmas dinner.

Could he be any worse than her father? The two of them didn't get on at all and they'd only met once or twice. She supposed it was because her father rang her up for trivial things like getting more bread or milk.

"Nothing to do Miller?" Alec asked her as he looked up.

"Daisy still going away tomorrow?" she wanted to make sure.

"She's not changed her mind," he replied. "I can't persuade her not to go, not this time. Why? You're not going to do something stupid like invite me to your house for Christmas dinner?"

"Rather be on your own then, opening a tin of something or other?" she asked him. "Yes, I was going to ask you, at least Fred's still your number one fan."

Alec couldn't believe how much wee Fred Miller had grown from when he himself was ill and used the buggy for support when they went out anywhere.

"I'll think about it," he offered as he took his specs off. "I expect I'll be holding the fort over the holidays?"

"You won't be entirely on your own and you don't have to stay here, you can just be on call," she reminded him. "What can happen?"

"Don't tempt fate," Alec replied, leaning back in his chair. "Just because things have died down after what happened here."

"Speaking of which, that garage where Jim Atwood worked was up for sale when I passed that way," Ellie informed him.

"Why am I not surprised Miller?" Alec tried not to sound bored. "I expect that rope factory has gone bust as well?"

"Probably, it can't have got much good publicity after what happened," Ellie agreed. "Are you letting Katie back in the new year? Her probation period will be up."

"Do you really want her back, after what you said about her?" Alec was surprised. "Let her apply and I'll think about it. I doubt the chief will recommend her for another quick promotion?"

"If you'd been back when she was put up for promotion, you'd have probably objected," Ellie grinned at him.

"Too right Miller, I don't know what the chief was even thinking. I don't recall seeing Harford at the training college when I was over there," Alec replied.

"Well you weren't looking for her, were you?" Ellie then laughed. "Well let me know by tomorrow about coming over on Christmas day, I have to go shopping," she reminded him.

"Don't get anything special Miller," Alec told her. "Tess always used to overdo it, anyone would have thought royalty was going to be visiting."

"Have you put anything in the collection box downstairs, under the Christmas tree yet?" she then asked him.

"I will do, when I have some change," he replied, Ellie recalling what he was like giving money to pay for drinks when someone was leaving a few years ago. "What's it in aid of anyway?"

"The police benevolent fund, for families who have lost someone," Ellie told him. "It's a good cause, the Vitex chairman's wife is the patron of it."

"Then I expect I should be impressed?" Alec replied dryly. "At least that family don't make the headlines all the time, unlike some so-called 'Reality' TV stars do. Daisy's forever going on about one such family who sound like they're a race of aliens from an old sci-fi series."

Ellie had to laugh at his suggestion.

"Right, I'll let you get back to what you were doing then?" she offered. "Or are you as bored as I am?"

"It just bothers me that after what happened, Daisy wants to go off for the holidays," he replied.

"After what happened with Tom, you're lucky she's still talking to you. I won't be that surprised if he stays in his room all the holidays," Ellie told him sadly. "Where did we go wrong?"

"I have no idea Miller," Alec shook his head. "Why don't you get off early?"

"Wow, what's come over you?" Ellie laughed.

"See you tomorrow Miller, before I change my mind," Alec ignored her.

The next morning, he was saying goodbye to Daisy as they waited at the coach stop.

"You should have let me take you to the nearest train station," Alec broke the silence as Daisy sat on the bench in the tiny bus shelter.

"It doesn't matter Dad, it's easier from here and I never got to the train station last time," she reminded him. "You went mental with those boys."

Alec would rather have forgotten about that.

"They had no respect for you or any other young women," he replied as he spied the coach making its way along the harbour. "Call me when you get there."

"Yeah, I will," Daisy promised as Alec took her case.

She gave him a hug as she got to the coach door. He waved as the coach departed, just as his phone rang. He knew Miller had no patience as he was about to tell her.

"Shut up Hardy, this is important," Ellie chastised him as he spoke.

"Stop telling me to shut up Miller," he reminded her. "This had better be good."

"Are you still by the coach stop?" she asked him before he could answer. "There's an incident over on the east beach, a woman was found unconscious ten minutes ago, an ambulance is on the way. I'll meet you there."

"Not again? What is it with this place? It's worse than that place on TV where there's a murder every week."

"Very funny Hardy, I'll be there in a few minutes," Ellie told him.

"Well stop and pick me up then," he suggested, since it would be quicker.

The ambulance had just arrived as Ellie and Alec were let through the police tape. It wasn't quite where Danny had been found but it was close enough for both of them to clearly remember. Ellie stood behind a paramedic, who was crouched down.

"She's breathing but unconscious," Ellie was told. "There's a bump on her head."

"What is she doing lying here then?" Alec wanted to know as he went to get a better look while the paramedics prepared the trolley. "Someone must have carried her here, otherwise there would be signs of a struggle."

Ellie was already searching the woman's pockets but found nothing.

"She may have been the victim of a robbery gone wrong," Ellie suggested. "Want me to go with her?"

"No, I'll go Miller, you go see if anyone has reported anything," Alec insisted, wanting something to do.

"It's rather strange though," Ellie told him as the paramedics prepared their patient. "She may have wandered around in a daze and ended up here I suppose?" she wondered.

"She may have been caught by surprise Miller, having no ID on her," Alec concluded. "See what you can find out when forensics arrive."

Ellie preferred to have little to do with the leader, Brian Young, having once embarrassed herself by asking if his offer of going for a drink was still open. Then she had found out later from her sister that he'd been asked some awkward questions in court at Joe's trial, which Hardy had not told her about.

Alec got in the back of the ambulance, not that he enjoyed being in the back of a ambulance.

"How is she?" he asked the other paramedic who had stayed with her.

"She may be out for a while Sir, it's a nasty bump she has. She has concussion."

As the ambulance drove off, Ellie met Brian Young as she was leaving.

"Another body on the beach?" he grinned at her.

"Don't be insensitive," Ellie told him. "Just do your job and see if there are any clues as to why a young woman was just lying unconscious over there," she pointed to where a WPC was standing over the spot.

"Okay, don't bite my head off," Brian replied. "You spend too much time with Hardy."

She was about to say something else when a man and a woman interrupted her.

"Excuse me, are you a detective?" she was asked. Ellie nodded as the man continued. "We were taking our dog for a walk, a few hundred yards away and one minute there was no-one there, where you just found that young woman. Then we got closer and there she was."

"Are you trying to say she appeared out of thin air?" was all Ellie could reply, thinking Hardy was just going to love this.

"That's what we thought," the woman agreed, holding a Yorkshire Terrier on a lead. "We went up to the person and found it was a woman. My husband checked for a pulse then called for an ambulance. We didn't try moving her."

"You did the right thing," Ellie assured them both. "Would you give your statements to the officer here?"

The officer still with her had his notebook out and took the couple to one side. Ellie made her way to her car and cursed her phone ringing, as it was her father.

"I'm a bit busy now Dad," she told him before she got in.

"Charming," he complained. "Fred wants to know when he can go see Father Christmas?"

"Dad, you can't keep calling me unless it's an emergency," Ellie reminded him. "I check in with you at lunchtime, things like that can wait."

"I told him I'd ask you," her father insisted. "I thought you would be home at lunchtime?"

"Just because I do sometimes doesn't mean I always get the chance," Ellie reminded him. "I won't be back today, something came up."

"Doesn't it always?" she was asked.

Ellie finally got back to the station and started going through any missing person reports, there had to be something, she thought.

Alec was waiting for any news of the mysterious young blonde woman, not liking being stuck in a hospital but it was better than going through reports.

"Excuse me, are you with the young woman who was just found on the beach?" a nurse asked him as he played with his phone.

"Yes, is there any news?" he wanted to know.

"She's stable but still unconscious, though we don't know why," he was told. "We're just finishing up and we'll put her on the general women's ward. Will you want to wait and question her?"

"Yes, she had no means of identification on her and I need to find out who she is," Alec replied.

"Someone will take you to her when she's settled then," the nurse promised.

His phone buzzed so he excused himself.

"What Miller?" he answered Ellie's call.

"The couple who found that woman on the beach. They both state she appeared from nowhere," Ellie tried to tell him.

"Are you serious Miller?" he didn't believe her.

"Yes, they said they were walking along and one minute she wasn't there and the next minute she was, as they got closer," Ellie insisted. "Any news on her yet?"

"She's just being put on a ward," Alec replied as the door opposite opened. "I'll stay and see if she wakes up. If not, get a female officer here to wait with her."

Alec pulled one of his faces, as he always did at Ellie. Ellie knew he did it, even when she wasn't with him.

"I could have gone with her then," Ellie pointed out.

"Any missing person reports of interest?" he then asked her.

"Not yet and we're still waiting for forensics," she told him.

"Well tell them to get a move on then," Alec insisted.

"Easy for you to say," Ellie quipped.

He ended the call as a nurse indicated he could go in the side-ward the woman had been taken into.

"She'll come round on her own," he was told. "Try not to disturb the other patients, I've put the curtain around but the others will wonder what's going on."

"Then tell them it's police business," Alec replied.

"I'll see what I can do," the nurse smiled. "I'll get a report of her injuries for you."

"I thought it was just the bump on the head?" Alec asked.

"No, on examination, she had a few bruises on her arms and legs," the nurse told him.

"Thank you," Alec told her as they went into the four bed unit.

What the hell had happened to the woman, he asked himself. It can't have been she had just 'appeared' out of nowhere, someone must have been responsible. He looked at the mysterious woman again, now in a hospital gown and he could see a bruise on her upper arm, her hair partly covering the one on her head.

He'd just have to wait for her to wake up or for forensics to find something at the spot she'd been found. What was it with that part of the beach? Miller must have been winding him up at how the woman had been discovered. Maybe the couple had stopped and faced out to sea and someone had carried her and they'd not been aware?

Whatever had happened, why had her ID been missing? This was something they had to make a priority, the woman had obviously put up a fight if she had bruises, so how had it gone un-noticed? Someone must be missing her by now, surely?

Brian Young was just approaching Ellie's desk so she looked up.

"There's nothing to suggest there was a struggle on the beach Ellie," he told her. "It's like she appeared from nowhere," he grinned.

"Not you as well?" she asked as she had been reading the statement from the couple who had found the victim.

"Sounds like you and Hardy have your work cut out for you?" he joked. "You'll have a full report shortly."

"Are you still mad at me?" Ellie dared ask him.

Brian stopped and looked at her.

"What for? You mean you turning me down flatly then asking me out months later while I'm doing you a favour finding out who broke into Hardy's riverside shack?" he tried to be serious.

"If you put it like that?" Ellie replied.

"I was a bit put out but forget about it," he finally told her. "Hardy never told you, did he? That the defence in Joe's court case asked some awkward questions about it."

"My sister told me later," Ellie admitted.

"No wonder he got off, you being accused of trying to start an affair with me while you were supposedly having one with Hardy," Brian laughed.

Ellie put her head in her hands. She had walked right into that one.

"There was never anything going on with me and Hardy," she insisted.

"I believe you, the way you two used to argue," Brian laughed. "They should have asked me about it."

Ellie wished they had done but it had still been said and the jury had probably believed both accusations. She started going through all the other missing person reports from other areas but there was no-one with the description of the young woman who had been found.

Alec had gone to get some tea out of the drinks machine and had just got back when he heard a sound from the unconscious woman and opened the curtain to call a nurse.

"Ouch! My head," the woman spoke as she tried to sit up.

"Stay where you are and wait for assistance," Alec urged her as he tried to get attention again

A nurse came over stood at the other side of the bed.

"Welcome back," the nurse smiled at the young woman, who had opened her eyes.

"Where am I?" she asked shakily.

"You had some sort of accident," the nurse tried to explain as she checked vital signs. "There's a detective here, who came with you. Do you know what happened?"

"Well, where was I found?" the blonde asked, trying to turn the other way. "I think I was travelling with someone. Yeah, The Doctor. Where is he?"

"There was no-one with you," Alec told her. "You had no ID on you. Do you know who you are?"

"Whoa, one question at a time," he was told off. "My head hurts."

"Sorry but it's important we find out as soon as possible what happened to you," Alec explained. "Do you know your name, Miss?"

She had no signs of any rings so he thought it safe to address the young woman as such.

"Can I get a drink?" she then asked the nurse, spying Alec's forgotten hot drink.

"I'll get you something," the nurse promised as she finished checking the woman's pulse and blood pressure. "Just try to relax."

She made the woman as comfortable as possible and went off, Alec seeing his chance.

"You were found a few hours ago, on the beach in Broadchurch. Do you know why you would have been there?"

"Where's Broadchurch?" he was asked. "I have no idea what I would have been doing there. I told ya, I was travelling around."

"Yes, so you said but could you have been left there, after an argument or something?" he tried to find out. "Do you at least remember your name now?"

The woman folded her arms and tried to move down the bed.

"I'm sorry, it must seem a lot to take in?" Alec apologised. "I was not implying the person who you were travelling with could have left you unconscious. Maybe they had no choice?"

"I remember my name, thanks, you're just goin' too fast," he was told.

"Then I apologise. Would you care to tell me your name then?" he tried to smile at her. "I'm detective inspector Alec Hardy, from Broadchurch police. Anything you tell me will give us a picture of what happened earlier. You were found by a couple walking their dog, a few hours ago."

"I was? Geez, I just don't remember anything other than I was travelling somewhere and my name."

"You had nothing with you," Alec reminded her. "Now, can you tell me your name?"

"Yeah, my name is Rose," the woman smiled back at him.

"Thank you, Rose. Do you remember your last name by any chance?" he asked hopefully so he could call Miller.

He was in for a disappointment when she shook her head and said 'No'.

Chapter 2

Well at least he'd made a start.

"Okay Rose, get some rest and I will come back later with my colleague," he told her.

"I might not feel as groggy then," Rose hoped. "Who the hell am I?"

"We'll find out but with the holidays coming up, it may take a bit longer," Alec replied, knowing it was no consolation to her.

"What holiday?" Rose wanted to know.

"It's almost Christmas," he broke the news to her.

"So, I'm gonna be stuck here until ya find out who I am then?" she asked him.

"We'll try and get you discharged but you had no money or bank cards on you when you were found," Alec had to tell her.

"Just great. So were they taken from me?" Rose wanted to know.

"I do not believe so, given that you appeared in front of that couple, they would have seen something," Alec replied. "We can sort something out when I come back later. Try not to worry too much."

"Easy for you to say," Rose muttered as Alec got up. "Sorry, I sound ungrateful."

"It's understandable," Alec told her. "Hopefully, we will find something out before we come back."

"Thanks. Can ya leave the curtain around? I don't feel like being asked a load of questions. Can I call ya Alec?"

"Yes, please do although I don't like the name much," he admitted.

"What's wrong with it?" Rose smiled.

"It's just me, I will make an exception," Alec smiled back. "I will leave you my number, in case you remember anything. Get one of the nurses to call me."

"Okay, I'll try, Alec," Rose promised. "Hope it's nearly lunchtime, I'm hungry."

Alec left the ward and called Ellie Miller.

"Send a car for me," he told her before she could say anything.

"Fine but I've found nothing out about her yet," she admitted. "How can she just appear on the beach? It sounds like something to do with Torchwood if you ask me."

"Come on Miller, even they can't make people appear from nowhere," Alec brushed it off.

"Yeah, I suppose not? Mind you, there was that thing with them in Cardiff not long ago where someone was crossing a bridge and just vanished."

"Someone tampered with the camera for a laugh Miller," Alec dismissed it. "We have to gather what we can and figure this out. Apart from her name being Rose, she only remembers she was travelling with someone called 'The Doctor'."

"That's not much to go on," Ellie replied.

"Well you come back with me later, she may be more willing to talk then," he suggested.

"You mean to me?" Ellie laughed. "I did offer to go with her."

Alec ignored her and waited for a car picking him up. When he had left the ward, a nurse had taken a drink to Rose and said it was about half an hour to lunch and told her what was available. Then she leaned back and tried to remember how she'd got here.

That morning, just after nine, Pete Tyler had driven himself and Rose to Torchwood, as he did most mornings except when his young son wanted him to take the boy to school.

"Sure you're not going to change your mind?" Pete was asking her about going off and hoping to get to the other universe.

"Ya know I can't Dad," she told him as they approached Torchwood Tower. "This is the closest we've ever got and it's stable."

"Well we still have to do the checks, to make sure it will stay like that long enough for you to get back," Pete told her. "All the safety measures have to be put into place. It's for your own good."

"I know it's safe Dad, or ya wouldn't let anyone go," Rose assured him.

She went off to get ready while Pete talked to Jake.

"Were those two arguing," Jake grinned as Mickey sat in a corner.

"They always are these days, don't know why," Pete confirmed. "Is everything ready?"

"Yeah Boss, she just has to get into position. Wish I'd been at that meeting yesterday now," Jake replied.

Pete knew Jake was finding it amusing but it could affect how Rose looked at the mission she was going on. Rose emerged from the changing room.

"In your own time Rose," Pete told her as the technicians were in their places.

He was glad the public didn't know about this and that Rose had chosen not to lead a lifestyle where she was always in the news. She helped her mother out with charity events but still kept in the background despite Jackie giving her credit.

He supposed her reasoning was that she'd known she had never been born here and questions may be asked where she'd suddenly come from. He didn't want her going through the nightmare of the Cybermen again. Rose gave him a hug and told him she'd be back, hopefully having seen The Doctor once again. What would she do if he'd already changed, he wondered as he heard the familiar whirr of the dimension cannon.

It never seemed to put Rose or anyone else off but he kept asking for the noise to be reduced. Rose only had her device with her, it was Torchwood policy to take no identification and a modified credit card that would fool any ATM into giving a small amount of cash but it was just a plain card, like one that would fit in other devices.

Rose felt a little strange as the cannon started aiming her where the co-ordinates were set by the experts who were monitoring the operation. She was also excited at the prospect of visiting her old world so she put it down to that. She needed to know for sure what The Doctor was going to say to her.

If he'd changed, would he still want to tell her? She came out of her thoughts with a bump, she had hit something, feeling her head hurting but that shouldn't happen. Something struck her arm, then her legs as she let out an 'Ow' but heard nothing.

Then she realised what was happening. The cannon was supposed to shoot a person across The Void at such a speed, then deposit them at their destination. Nothing had gone wrong previously but it flashed through her mind that she might have collided with some objects that were going as fast as she was.

It was meant to take less than thirty seconds but this seemed endless as she started getting dizzy from being hit on her forehead. Then she had landed with a 'Thud' on what felt like sand and nothing – she was out cold. Rose had woken up in a hospital bed, a man with a scruffy beard at her side asking her name and what she remembered.

She had told him but he probably expected more, such as her last name and where she had come from. She must have been going somewhere, to end up on a beach like she had done. Then she'd remembered she'd been travelling with a man called The Doctor so she'd told the detective. Had that been enough? Another nurse came along and insisted she pulled the curtain back.

"Now Rose, how are you feeling?" she was asked.

Great, now everyone knew her name.

"My head still hurts, when can I have something for it?" Rose replied. "Is it lunchtime yet?"

The nurse smiled at her.

"Very soon, then we'll see how you feel," was the reply. "Is that detective coming back?"

"Yeah, with someone else, I think," Rose told the nurse. "How long will I have to stay here?"

"When we find out who you are and where you belong, we can discharge you. You'll be home for Christmas," the nurse promised.

"Will I?" Rose asked. "What if I don't remember?"

"The police will have to sort something out for you then," Rose was told. "Sorry. Try not to worry too much."

At the police station, the chief had called Alec to her office.

"So, any news of the mysterious woman found on the beach?" she asked him.

"No more than her name is Rose," Alec told her since Miller obviously hadn't. "She seemed to think she'd been travelling with someone but she may be confused. Nothing much from forensics either."

He'd quickly read the report left on his desk, which hadn't been much help.

"So what are we going to do with her?" the chief wanted to know. "No missing person reports on her yet?"

"None so far. The hospital can't keep her forever," Alec replied.

"Can DS Miller help with putting her up for a few days?" the chief suggested.

"She has her father staying with her," Alec reminded her. "I have a spare room, my daughter's gone to visit her mother."

What had he just said, he regretted it instantly. It had been one thing debating it but to say it out loud was another.

"It would only be until she gets her memory back Alec," the chief seemed to agree. "What other alternative is there? It seems a bit unkind to put her into a hotel at our expense and just leave her there. She must be scared."

"She did seem scared," Alec recalled. "I don't like to think how she got those bruises either, especially the one on her forehead."

"Yes, she could be disturbed by them is she remembers how she got them. I think someone has to keep an eye on her until we find out who she is," the chief also agreed.

"I'm taking DS Miller with me later to see her," Alec told her. "There may be some things she would feel more comfortable talking to her about and she will maybe need some more clothes, she only had a thin jacket on her."

"I'll let you and Ellie sort that out. Now, about Katie Harford? She's almost completed her refresher course."

"What about her? I can't agree for her to get her rank back, not after what happened," Alec insisted. "Her attitude also lets her down badly and she has very little respect for senior officers."

"Not even on a trial basis after the holidays?" the chief tried to persuade him.

"She can't take orders," Alec argued. "She just does as she likes and she insulted DS Miller by not following a direct order."

"Well we'll leave it for now then," the chief decided. "I will be on leave from the 30th so you'll be in charge Alec, unless anything urgent comes up?"

Alec thought it would be just his luck, as if looking after someone who had lost her memory wasn't enough. When it was decided when Rose was being discharged, he'd have to go do some extra shopping. He went back to his office just as his phone was ringing.

Rose was feeling a little better after having something to eat and had asked for a nurse to get Alec on the phone.

"Alec?" she asked cautiously. "It's Rose. I think I remember something. I saw the bruises I had, I think I might have bumped into something hard but it's still a bit fuzzy."

"That's okay Rose, it will come back to you," he tried to assure her. "Try not to think too much about it, let it come back to you gradually."

"Okay, I'll try then," Rose agreed. "I dread to think what happened though."

"I can understand that," he told her. "You don't remember who your friend was, so we can contact him?" he asked hopefully.

"No, sorry Alec. What's gonna happen to me, the nurse said it's almost Christmas."

"Yes, it is. Don't worry, I won't leave you there," he promised.

"Are ya gonna put me in a hotel room or something?" Rose was worried. "I'd rather stay here."

"I won't leave you in a hotel room either. I will sort something out, I promise. We will be there to see you soon."

Rose sat back, she had to trust the detective, she had no choice unless she remembered who she'd been travelling with. She closed her eyes and tried to picture whoever was called 'The Doctor' and why she'd called him that. Nothing came to her so she dozed off until a nurse was waking her up.

"You have visitors Rose," she was told. "The detective from earlier and another detective."

The nurse turned to Alec as she pulled the curtain back over for some privacy.

"Try not to stay too long please. Have you had any luck identifying her?"

"Not yet but no-one may know she's missing yet," Ellie replied, getting her a look from Alec.

He knew Rose had heard what had been said, Miller could sometimes outdo him in the offending department. He glared at Ellie as if to say well done. He let Ellie take the chair and looked around for another but since visiting hours had just finished, any spare chairs hadn't been put back so he sat on the end of the bed, making Rose move her feet.

"Hello Rose, I'm DS Ellie Miller," Ellie introduced herself since she knew Hardy wouldn't. "How are you feeling now?"

"A bit better," Rose admitted as Alec got his notebook out of his pocket.

Rose thought it reminded her of something, maybe The Doctor was always taking notes?

"I've not remembered much else," Rose admitted, in case he thought he had a lot to write down. "So, no-one's claimed me yet?"

Ellie knew that was directed at her. On the way down, Alec had admitted maybe it was best Rose stayed with him until she either remembered or someone said they knew her.

"That has to be the most stupid idea you've had Hardy," Ellie had told him as traffic built up behind them.

"Really? Have you got a better one apart from putting your two boys into one room and offering her either of their bedrooms? What about your father? You always complain he swears too much."

"Thanks for that," Ellie huffed as she almost missed the turning to the hospital.

"I've got a spare room, Daisy won't be back until after the new year. That gives us time to find out who Rose is. What gets me is why no ID of any kind on her? Did she lose it before she was found on the beach?" he wondered. "Just park by the main entrance."

Ellie got her police sign out then went for the carrier bag from the supermarket where she had got a few things she thought Rose might need before leaving hospital. Now, she was handing the bag over to Rose, who was looking inside.

"Oh, thanks Ellie," Rose looked please there was a comb, some toiletries, feminine items and a pack of underwear Ellie had guessed the size of. "I looked in my jacket and there was an odd looking card."

She handed it to Alec, feeling a shiver when his hand touched hers but not showing any outward signs. A flash ran through her. Was that what The Doctor's hand had felt like? That meant she had been close to him, maybe even lovers?

Alec looked at the card, which was plain with a chip in the middle, like a bank card but nothing on the back either.

"Unusual," he had to agree. "It looks like one of those cards people used to pay for telephone calls before bank cards were accepted."

"Oh, I know the ones you mean," Ellie agreed. "They were green and silver, I remember carrying one with me in case I had no change."

Alec looked at her as if to say not to ramble on. Rose looked at them both. Was something going on between these two, she wondered or did they just not get along?

"Well it won't be any good if I don't know what it's for," Rose told them. "The nurse offered to get my clothes washed for me later. They want to make sure I've recovered from the concussion but I still don't know how it happened, sorry."

"Rose, I had an idea, for you getting out of here," Alec told her. "That's if you agree."

"Not a hotel?" Rose hoped not.

"No. DS Miller would offer but she has a houseful so since my daughter has gone off for the holidays, maybe you would agree to come and stay with me?"

"Oh. I don't want to put either of you to any trouble," Rose replied, a bit surprised anyone would want to take her in when they didn't know her.

"It's no trouble Rose. A hotel is no place for you but we could arrange for you to stay here a bit longer?" he offered.

Rose thought about it. Which would be the worst, not that she had anything against the hospital and the staff but they didn't need her there.

"If ya sure Alec? Thanks for the offer. Ellie, will I be able to get a few more clothes?"

"Well I'm on leave after tomorrow but if you get DI Hardy to call me, I can take you down to the superstore, you'll get what you need there," Ellie offered.

"We have a fund for people like yourself," Alec told Rose. "So get what you need for a few days. I have officers watching out for any reports where someone is missing who matches your description."

"Is it that quiet around here then?" Rose smiled.

Ellie knew the young woman was paying much more attention to Hardy than herself. There was going to be trouble now he'd offered to let her stay with him. Rose may have lost her memory but she still knew how to flirt.

"The town has its moments but is thankfully quiet at the moment," Alec assured her.

He didn't want to mention what had happened in the town in the past few years.

"We'll check up on you in the morning then," he continued as he put his notebook back in his pocket. "If they are satisfied your injuries will heal on their own they may discharge you."

"I hope so. Thanks for visiting, both of you," Rose told them.

"You have my work number, my work mobile number is on the back, don't hesitate to call if you want to talk," Alec replied as he got up.

"Thanks Alec. I'll maybe see you both tomorrow?" Rose asked them.

They went off but Ellie stopped outside the ward.

"Don't you think you're getting a bit too involved?" she challenged him.

"We have to gain her trust Miller," Alec disagreed.

"So you'd have offered to put anyone up then?" Ellie asked him.

"Stop it Miller. What was I supposed to do? Put her in a hotel when she's scared?"

"Well I don't think it's a good idea," Ellie replied. "So what's this fund you're on about? Oh, it was so Rose didn't think she'd have to pay it back? Well I have enough to pay out, thanks."

"Just get receipts and I will give you the money," Alec snapped at her. "How much can it cost?"

Ellie could tell his ex wife used to take their daughter shopping, he didn't have a clue. There was silence on the way back as Ellie dropped him by the harbour and she went off home. He had known his decision wasn't going to go down well with her but it was almost Christmas, it was the right thing to do.

Rose managed to get to sleep but woke up with a start, wondering where she was. It came back to her but she wished she could remember more. The consultant saw her the next morning and Rose said she didn't feel too bad.

"Have you somewhere to go?" Rose was asked.

"Yeah. Someone offered to let me stay with them. Is that okay?"

"As long as you take it easy for a few days?" the consultant agreed. "Can someone collect you?"

Rose thought maybe Alec would send Ellie to get her, then they could go get a change of clothes.

"Can someone make a phone call for me?" Rose then asked.

"They're letting you out?" Alec sounded surprised just after ten. "Then I will come and get you."

"Thanks Alec but maybe Ellie would be able to take me shopping?" Rose replied.

"One thing at a time eh?" he suggested. "Let me take you to my place first, then go out later?"

"If ya think that's best?" Rose agreed, thinking she may be pushing things a bit.

Alec went off to get his car, then he decided he may as well have brought it with him that morning and got a uniformed officer to drop him near home as he was leaving. Ellie had noticed him leaving and caught up with him before he left.

"Is Rose out so soon?" she asked as he pressed the lift button.

"She just called. I'll drop her at home then come back and tidy up. I don't think she should be left too long on her own."

"Be careful Sir, don't let her get too attached to you," she warned him.

"What does that mean Miller? You can come round later and take her shopping, if you don't trust me," he suggested.

"Well since you're down that way, why don't you take her?" Ellie replied.

"Fine," he answered as he got in the lift.

He was on his way to the hospital, wondering if he was doing the right thing by offering Rose a place to stay. Had she been flirting with him earlier? Unless someone claimed to know her in the next few days, he was going to find out.

Chapter 3

Rose was getting dressed, hoping Ellie would come down as well so she could go shopping. She was surprised when Alec arrived on his own.

"DS Miller said I was capable of taking you shopping," he explained on the way out.

"Don't worry, I'll just get what I need," Rose promised as he opened the passenger door for her, since he'd parked in the 'official vehicles' spaces.

He drove off to the supermarket then left her in the ladies department while he went to get a few groceries. She was waiting for him when he'd finished.

"Aren't ya getting a turkey?" she wondered.

"Oh, did I not say? We were invited to DS Miller's house for Christmas dinner."

"Oh. I was probably still out of it," Rose smiled as they waited at the checkout. "Are you going back to work?"

"After I settle you, just for a while," he admitted. "No-one will bother you, I live on the side of the cliff."

"What?" Rose spluttered with laughter. "Sorry. What made ya move there then?"

"It seemed a good idea," he replied as he put things on the conveyor belt. "I used to live at the side of the river."

"That would have been nice," Rose smiled.

"If you like water. I don't," he told her. "Sure you got enough?" he asked as she piled her purchases behind the groceries.

They put everything in the car and headed back to Broadchurch, Rose having to believe him about where he lived when they stopped at the bottom of some steps. She got out of the car and got the bags with her clothes in and Alec got the groceries.

"After you," he offered.

They got inside and he took a key off his keyring.

"Take this for now," he offered. "If I had known, I would have got my daughter to leave her key. This is for the patio door, in case you want to go out."

"I think I've had enough for now," Rose admitted.

"Well you can go outside if that's all you want?" he replied. "Hungry?" he then asked as he got two ready-made sandwiches out of the bag.

After they had eaten, Alec showed her Daisy's room and pointed out the spare bed.

"Thanks for letting me stay Alec, I think I'd have gone crazy staying in hospital."

"It's no problem Rose, I'm sure my daughter wouldn't mind you sharing. Have you remembered anything else?" he asked her.

"No, sorry. I wish I could, my family could be going all over the place looking for me," she told him. "I heard what DS Miller said."

"Yes, I apologise for that," he replied. "I'm sure she never meant to upset you?"

"Well at least I'm out of hospital," Rose smiled. "How does my forehead look?"

She went towards the mirror on the wardrobe and pulled her hair back.

"It looks better," Alec tried to assure her. "Try to remember how you got it?"

"I wish I could. So, two days until Christmas Eve?"

"Yes, both the chief and DS Miller finish tomorrow. So, you are stuck with me," he tried to joke.

"Aw, you're not that bad, are ya?" Rose laughed. "Anyway, ya said we were invited out. What about Christmas Eve. Were ya planning on going out?"

"We can go out, if you want?" he offered. "There is a choice of pubs around the harbour."

"Thanks. I am causing trouble, aren't I?" she realised.

"Don't think that Rose. It is not your fault you ended up here," he assured her, putting his hand on her shoulder. "You could have ended up anywhere. You could be alone right now. If you'd been taken to hospital some place else, the police could have left you there."

"Yeah, sorry. I think I'll a lie down, thanks," Rose decided.

"I will be back in a few hours, I have to re-arrange some things over the holidays now you are here and do not say anything," he almost smiled. "Some of the junior officers can take more responsibility."

As Alec left Rose in the bedroom so she put her new clothes away in the spare wardrobe, she thought maybe she'd overdone it by going shopping since her head hurt. Alec went off and Ellie followed him into his office.

"How's Rose?" she asked him.

"She was going to have a rest for a few hours. She still can't remember what happened. Think Miller, has anything like that happened here before?"

"You mean someone appearing from nowhere?" she wanted to know.

"Exactly. We could be right, it could have something to do with Torchwood but how do we find out?" he asked her.

"Ring them up and ask if someone's missing?" Ellie suggested.

Alec gave her one of his looks.

"Well do you have a better idea?" she replied.

"They are not likely to admit it, even to the police," Alec told her.

"Well what do we do? Wait for them to ask us?" Ellie asked sarcastically.

"Let's wait and see if she remembers anything," Alec suggested. "I told her we were invited to your place on Christmas Day. You had better give me a time."

Ellie agreed, saying any time after two but the place might be in chaos.

"I'm sure Rose won't mind," Alec told her. "I said I would take her out for a while on Christmas Eve."

"Wow, you going out," Ellie mocked him. "Done all your shopping?"

"There is still time if anything is needed," he replied.

"You should get a present for her, make her feel welcome," Ellie reminded him. "Chocolates or something."

"Right. You had better know that I intend making some of the junior staff do their fair share over the holidays."

"I wouldn't have expected any less," Ellie told him.

When he got back, Rose surprised him by putting her arms around him and kissing his cheek.

"Hi, glad you're back," she greeted him. "Geez, it's quiet up here, don't the birds make a noise?"

"In the mornings, for a while," he told her, glad she had let go. "Have you been alright?"

"Yeah, I feel a bit better now but I had this strange dream. I could see these silver shapes but I couldn't make out what they were supposed to be. Bit weird."

Alec led her over to the sofa and sat beside her.

"Rose. Try to remember something else about it. Silver shapes? Did they look like people?" he wanted to know.

Rose was about to get up and run off to the room she'd been given but he stopped her.

"Rose, they weren't just shapes, were they? You remembered something from your past."

"Can't ya stop being a detective?" she asked him, leaning back against the cushion.

"I'm sorry but it could be important Rose. A few years ago, the planet was almost taken over by a race called the Cybermen. A man called Lumic invented them, as a way of preserving himself, then he had the idea to extended that to the population, to convert everyone."

"Geez, did someone try to stop him?" Rose asked. "Sorry, well we're all still Human so I guess they did?"

"Some say it was just a small group of freedom fighters," Alec replied, making allowances for her. "They invaded so easily due to Lumic inventing some earpods, as a way of controlling what people saw and heard. Once people were rounded up to be converted, it was easy for them to amass an army."

"So people just walked in to be converted?" Rose asked him.

"It's said that this group got in and broke the hold over people and were able to escape. The Cybermen were then rounded up and locked in the factory they were using but slowly, they began to escape. Enough of that for now Rose. If you saw them in your dreams, you may be starting to remember."

"Not just about that I hope?" Rose managed to smile. "Why would someone invent something like that?"

"I told you, he just got carried away with things. He had some good inventions but no-one could have guessed his motives behind it. He was buying up big companies and no-one objected, he even bought Vitex, the health drink company. When he was killed, some say by his own Cybermen, everyone got their companies back," Alec explained.

Rose studied his face, he was beginning to look a little familiar.

"Ya said they escaped though Alec. Where did they go?" Rose asked him.

"They disappeared, by means of an organisation called Torchwood. It's thought they all went to some other world though it's never been confirmed. Peter Tyler, who is the head of Vitex took over the running of it when it fell apart and was abandoned. Since then, no-one asks any questions, everyone is glad they are gone."

"What about where they went Alec? Did no-one think of that?" Rose wanted to know.

"Rose, don't worry about it eh? There is no proof where they went, they could have just disappeared into space. Those freedom fighters saved a lot of lives the night when they infiltrated that factory."

"Sounds like they did then?" Rose agreed. "Sorry I brought it up."

"Don't be sorry Rose," Alec assured her. "How about we go out and get something to eat? Unless you want to make something?"

They walked down the steps and to the pub in the corner by the sea-scout hut which had been newly-painted and a new leader appointed. Alec was surprised she knew what she wanted to drink and thought her memory loss was most strange and meant to call the hospital to check up when she would get her full memory back.

It seemed to him that if she could remember the Cybermen, her loss was only short term and that maybe in some way she had been involved with the incident either at the factory or Torchwood itself but the organization had been nothing like in recent years. Pete Tyler had changed it mostly for the better but it still had its secrets, like secret projects and the way he kept his new family out of the newspapers.

He looked across at Rose and thought it a shame he couldn't find out a bit more about her. She smiled across at him as she finished her dessert and hinted she wanted another drink.

"More white wine and lemonade?" he smiled back, remembering his fateful blind-date via the dating app.

"Actually, some coffee would be nice," Rose decided. "Have ya been here before then?"

"Ah, no," he admitted. "Maybe I should have done?"

"Well it's right on your doorstep," she pointed out with a mischievous smile.

"Yes but not ideal for having too much to drink with all those steps," he replied as he got the attention of the waitress.

They finished their drinks and since Rose was feeling tired, they got up but Rose wasn't quite ready to go back.

"Can we go for a walk?" she asked him.

"Rose, it's cold out there, you only have a thin jacket," he reminded her. "Why were you only wearing that?"

"Maybe it was a bit warmer when I set off to wherever I was going?" she suggested as they stood in the doorway and she fastened the zip right up. "Sorry. Maybe we should go back then?"

"Rose, it's fine, I understand this is difficult for you," he assured her again. "It will keep happening. I will make an extra effort tomorrow to see if anyone is missing you, I promise."

"Thanks Alec," Rose replied, putting her arm in his, Alec thinking it was because her hands were cold. "When we were talking earlier, about what those Cybermen were, well ya gave me a funny look, like ya thought I knew something."

"Did I? I never noticed," he replied. "That is just it though Rose, do you know something? I do think there is more to it and somehow involves Torchwood."

Rose stopped at the bottom of the steps.

"You think I belong to it?" she asked him, trying to keep her hands warm.

He noticed and took hold of them.

"There is a possibility, when you think about it," he told her. "Miller and I were discussing it earlier. It would explain a lot. What if you were part of it and it was part of their secrets? They still keep some aspects away from even the police."

"You're scaring me Alec," Rose replied. "Can we go inside or won't ya help me if it turns out you're right?"

"Don't think that Rose," he urged her as she took one hand away from his. "I promise I will still help you but we have to get to the truth."

"So ya can get rid of me," Rose told him.

"That is not the reason," he assured her. "Come on, let's get you inside before your hands get any colder."

He let her go first, Rose wondering what he'd have to say when they got inside. Had she said something wrong? Once she had warmed up, she tried to excuse herself but he kept her talking.

"I was not implying there was anything wrong, if you were working for Torchwood," he reassured her. "You may have just been doing a job. I don't know a lot about them but I will find out, especially about their involvement with the Cybermen," he promised her.

"Geez, I think I'd rather forget about them," Rose tried to joke.

"So would everyone, believe me," he replied. "A lot of people died but a lot were also saved. They were stopped because they were controlling the earpods everyone wore and transmission was broken, making everyone realise what they were doing walking into the factory to be converted."

"It sounds like something out of a horror film," Rose told him.

"There was a rumour that it all started at a party Pete Tyler was hosting for his then wife. Some say the president was killed when Lumic was refused permission to begin his program of transferring people's memories into his Cybermen when they were dying, a way of living on," Alec explained the best he could. "Then he went completely mad and set the ones he had already created on the people at the party."

"Why did so many even get made, if he'd not got permission?" Rose wanted to know.

"It was said he rounded up the homeless, those who would not be missed and converted them," he admitted. "That was what the police were told anyway. There was an enquiry afterwards into how he did it so easily but he was gone, thought to have been killed when he was turned on. No-one admitted anything to the contrary."

Rose was trying to take it all in. Had she really been a part of it and that was why she'd thought about those Cybermen?

"I'm sorry if I upset you Rose but you wanted to know," he apologised, touching her shoulder. "If you had been involved, you must have been very young."

"That doesn't make me feel any better Alec," she replied. "I don't know if I want to hear any more, if ya find out."

"I can understand how you feel like that," he agreed. "I will make some enquiries tomorrow, though I won't contact Torchwood just yet."

"Ya said I might not be missed yet," Rose reminded him. "Did ya mean by my family or by Torchwood?"

Alec thought she had a point. Wouldn't her family be missing her by now, even if Torchwood was involved somehow and they didn't know she was? Things were beginning to add up but he didn't want to say anything until he was sure that they were one of the same. Rose was one of the Tyler family, she had to be. That was the only explanation.

"Want some tea before you go to bed?" he asked, wanting to change the subject.

"Thanks, yeah. What do you really think about it Alec?" she asked him.

"That we should leave it until I get some answers," he smiled, going into the kitchen.

Rose had to let it go, she was tired and even more confused. Why hadn't her family been looking for her unless they didn't realise she was actually missing?

Earlier that day at Torchwood, Jake was going through the readings from the dimension cannon while Rose was gone.

"Are there any signs she's got there?" Pete asked him.

"Not yet but ya know how it can go?" Jake replied. "What with the time differences."

"That's what Rose and Mickey were going on about," Pete laughed.

"I swear those two are gonna swing for each other one of these days," Jake also laughed.

"Well I don't know what's got into them both either," Pete admitted. "Maybe it's because she's so near to finding The Doctor and Mickey's still jealous?"

"Yeah, that has to be it," Jake agreed. "Rose knows it gets to him but it won't stop her. So is Tony getting all excited then?"

"Yeah, he's driving Jackie mad wanting to put the big tree up in the hallway but she won't do it until Christmas Eve," Pete told him. "She wants to be sure Rose will be back."

"Well allowing for a difference in time, it could be a couple of days for us, ya know it's never exact. I reckon if she's in the right place it will be slower for her. I hope she finds him Pete."

"So do I Jake, then she can get on with things, maybe meet someone who'll take her mind off him?" Pete replied.

"Like that detective down in that seaside town," Jake laughed. "She still keeps trying to ignore him when he's in the news."

"Well maybe she'll give in one of these days?" Pete wondered. "Well, I'll leave you to it and call Jackie and say there's no news yet. I don't think she'll ever get used to the fact her daughter still can't stop time-travelling."

"Yeah, she maybe thought it was all over with when they came here," Jake told Pete.

"Well it's still a mystery how that cannon started working again all of a sudden," Pete reminded him. "If I didn't know better, I would swear The Doctor had something to do with it."

"I bet Rose thinks that as well," Jake agreed, looking at the screen and seeing a spike in the readings. "Come and look at this Pete."

After several technicians looked at the data, they all came to the same conclusion that something had happened during transmission and only just been picked up. What it was, they were still debating when Pete went to his office and called Jackie.

"What ya mean there was a spike?" Jackie wasn't sounding happy, since Tony was asking where Rose was and he wanted to go to the shopping mall to see Santa.

"Mum, Rose promised me," Tony was saying and grabbing her arm.

"I know Tony, let me talk to your dad," Jackie was telling him.

"We don't know what it means yet but half a dozen people are working on it. It's probably a glitch of some kind," he tried to explain.

"Don't make up excuses Pete, just find out where she is," Jackie insisted. "Why did she have to go off so near to Christmas?"

"Jackie, we've only just got the signs it's the right place and time," Pete replied, not wanting to explain things to her.

He knew she'd never get they had to make adjustments to get someone to the right time. Then he had a thought and needed to talk to Jake again.

"Jackie, we'll do everything to get Rose back in time," he promised.

"You'd better Pete," Jackie warned him. "I want her back in time for Christmas."

He went back to the cannon room to find Jake talking to another expert.

"Jake, that spike. What if Rose got stuck and dropped out of the stream somehow?"

"You are joking?" Jake asked, knowing what it meant. "She could have fallen out anywhere, in this dimension or the other one or worst still, still be in the void."

"I know what it means Jake, I hate to think about it but we may have to face the fact. What if she collided with something, in the void and it threw her off course?"

"Pete, nothing's supposed to move as fast as the cannon sends someone," Jake reminded him. "Ya think it might have been a stray Cyberman or Dalek?"

"I hope not Jake. If it was, she may have been injured and she got deposited somewhere. I sincerely hope it was in this dimension, if she's landed in the other one, she may have forgotten what she was doing."

"I hope so too boss," Jake agreed. "If she loses her memory, she may think she belongs there. Well I know she belongs there but ya know what I mean?"

"Yes Jake, I know. It means she may not know what the device she has with her is for and forget to look for The Doctor. We'll give her a few more days, then either you or Mickey will have to try to recreate what happened and hope you land in the same place to bring her back."

"Then it should be me," Jake volunteered. "I was responsible for sending her."

"Don't blame yourself Jake, you couldn't have known, no-one could. She may be okay and just waiting to see if there's any signs of The Doctor. What we said before, what if he did fix the cannon for us if he was here without us knowing?"

Chapter 4

Jake did blame himself. What if the readings had been wrong?

"I can't see how he got back Boss," Jake disagreed. "Not if his ship doesn't work in this world."

"It was just a thought," Pete admitted. "I'm getting as bad as Rose."

"Stands to reason," Jake laughed. "I'll see what we can find out, you should maybe go home and prepare Jackie, if Rose isn't back in time for the celebrations."

"Tony wants her to take him to Santa's grotto," Pete told him. "I doubt he'd let me take him."

He went home to try to get Tony to go with him but he knew the youngster wouldn't want to. If Rose had known she'd get delayed, she wouldn't have broken her promise to take him. There was nothing he could do, he had to trust Jake and the experts to get Rose back but if she'd fallen out of the stream, she could be anywhere.

He hoped it hadn't been a stray Dalek or Cyberman floating around that had hit her, she could have some nasty injuries but worst of all, she may not know who she was any more. He had to face his wife and explain to her, one of the hardest things he'd had to do.

"Ya can't mean that Pete?" she asked him while Tony was off playing.

"I'm sorry Jaks, we have to face the facts. That spike could have been something bumping into her that knocked her off course," he tried to explain.

"If she loses her memory Pete, what then?" Jackie wanted to know.

"We have to hope she landed in this universe and someone helps her," Pete told her.

"Well we'd best hope it's the police then," Jackie replied. "Just how far was she anyway?"

"That's what Jake's trying to find out," Pete admitted. "It's the time differences Jackie, between the two worlds. The computers work it out, we have to depend on them, none of us can work it out. Plus it depends when she was knocked off course, if she just dropped out or got sent backwards or forwards."

"It's serious then?" Jackie asked him. "What are ya gonna do Pete?"

"Calm down love. We'll try and recreate it and Jake will go after her," Pete assured her, not wanting to say Rose might not know who she is."

"Pete, if she's still here somewhere, why don't ya get onto the chief of police and have them watch out for her?" Jackie suggested. "Why did she want to stay out of the papers, then anyone would know who she is."

"She had her reasons Jaks," Pete reminded her. "She never wanted to be famous, that's not her, you should know that."

"Yeah, I know that Pete," Jackie told him. "Why did that blasted cannon thing have to start working?"

"I know Jackie, we still can't figure out how it did. I was saying to Jake that I'd swear it had been The Doctor who'd come back and fixed it," Pete laughed. "The experts say it could have been the time when there were some disturbances, they're divided on that though."

"Well promise me if she's not back on Christmas Eve, that ya get onto your friend. She could be anywhere and no-one knows who she is," Jackie reminded him.

Pete had already thought of that but his friend wouldn't thank him for a false alarm if Rose suddenly arrived back and every police force in the country was put on alert. He went to find Tony, to try to explain why Rose wasn't back to take him out.

"I promise I'll take you if she's not back tomorrow," Pete was telling the boy.

"Well okay then Dad but Rose promised," Tony gave in.

"I know but she would be back if she could, it's just she got held up," Pete told him.

Back in Broadchurch, Rose had gone to bed and Alec was about to after disconnecting from his phone he'd been using to try to find out who Rose was. To him, it was looking more and more likely she would turn out to be Pete Tyler's stepdaughter but there was very little about her new life or her past.

He had got onto the public website of Torchwood and seen her listed as an agent, specializing in alien occurrences including dealing directly with any strays who got themselves stranded here. She also dealt in alien artefacts with whom she shared responsibility with a fellow agent called Mickey Smith.

He did wonder if that was whom she referred to as 'The Doctor' but there was nothing to indicated the man was anything but a colleague. He knew the official story of Pete Tyler re-marrying and gaining a stepdaughter after his first wife had been taken when his home was invaded by the Cybermen on the night of a party he was holding for her.

He'd told Rose most of it to help her understand the dream she'd had but there was no point in telling her any more just yet. He had just got to sleep after thinking how he could help her adjust until someone came forward when he heard her calling out. He got up and put some joggers on and went into Daisy's room to see her tossing around in the bed, flinging her arms.

"Rose, wake up," he urged her as she shouted something about Daleks, whatever that was. "Rose, come on."

She sat up, panic on her face that Alec could see in the light from outside. He put the bedside light on as Rose grabbed hold of him.

"Who the hell am I Alec?" she cried as she clung to him while he tried to sit on the bed. "Why am I remembering those Cybermen when I can't remember my name?"

"Shush, you're okay," he assured her. "You had them on your mind from earlier I expect? You have to try and forget about them and remember something else about your past."

"It's not easy Alec," Rose was still upset. "You think I'm Pete Tyler's stepdaughter or something, don't ya?"

"Rose, I could be wrong but yes, you could well be," he replied, Rose now holding his arm and he had taken her other hand. "That would explain why you had no ID on you, if you were working for Torchwood."

"Then can't ya contact them?" she asked him.

"Rose, I can't just ask the director if his stepdaughter's missing," Alec smiled. "I will make some more enquiries tomorrow, I promise. Now try and get back to sleep eh?"

"Alec, will ya stay? I don't wanna be on my own. Please?"

"Rose, it's not a good idea. What if you left someone behind?" he tried to get out of it, not that the idea didn't appeal to him – it did.

Going out with her earlier had reminded him of that awkward date he'd had that Daisy had set him up on but Rose was different. He didn't feel awkward with Rose, he felt protective of her.

"What if I did Alec? You're the one that's here. I don't want to be alone, that's all. Are you involved with someone, Ellie maybe?"

"What? No, never," he denied. "We were accused once but it never happened, we just try to get on as best as we can."

"I'm just messin' with ya," Rose smiled, rubbing his arm. "I noticed earlier and thought ya might have been involved at some point but I believe ya."

"Good. Come into my room, I have a double bed," he replied, getting up and holding her arm to help her.

Rose was glad she'd chosen some pyjamas rather than a nightdress when she'd been clothes shopping earlier. She followed him next door Alec pulled the duvet back on the other side.

"Sorry, is this awkward?" she asked as she got in.

"No, it's fine, really. I just was not expecting any company. If it makes you feel safer, I understand," he told her.

"When ya got back earlier, ya seemed surprised how I greeted ya," Rose yawned.

"Ah, yes, I was surprised but it was a pleasant one," he assured her as he turned the lamp out, thinking it was safer if he kept the joggers on.

"Alec, if I am Rose Tyler, what then?" she wanted to know.

"Then I'm sure he will want to see for himself but try not to worry about that yet. Rose, I would call but if he doesn't know for sure you are missing yet, he may just brush me off if I ask to speak to him," Alec warned her. "Also, even if he does know, he maybe won't want to make it public just yet because of all the crank calls he may get."

"Yeah, I get it Alec but it doesn't make me feel any better. What if I don't start getting my memory back? What if I'm not her?"

"Then we keep going to find out who you really are but everything is pointing to the fact that you are," he replied. "Get some sleep eh? Come here Rose, I know you feel all alone but you're not. You have me."

"Thanks Alec, I was lucky it was you and Ellie who found me, I know that. Can I ask ya something?"

"Sure. Is it about my daughter objecting to you using her room?" he tried to guess.

"Actually, no. I was gonna ask if I can have a hug?" she tried not to giggle.

"You may regret asking that," he teased her, trying to put his arm around her and kissing her forehead.

"Thought ya said it wasn't a good idea?" she teased him back.

"I know you need assurance you are not in this alone," he answered her. "Just do not tell DS Miller."

"She won't get jealous will she?" Rose tried to be serious as she rested on his shoulder.

"Don't," he warned her.

When she didn't answer, he assumed she'd fallen asleep. He laid awake, wondering what would happen to her if she wasn't who he thought she was. How could he just abandon her if no-one came forward to claim her? He decided he'd give it a few more days and see if the Tylers put out some sort of appeal for her.

When he woke up to his alarm, his arm was caught under Rose, who had only moved to claim more of it and he felt her arm around his middle. He could also feel her hair under his chin and didn't want to disturb her too much as he tried to reach his phone to silence it.

Rose woke with a start, wondering what the noise was and whose arm she was lying on. She panicked for a second then she heard a Scottish voice telling the alarm to be quiet. She dared to put her head on his chest as she felt him trying to move his arm.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked him.

"Nothing Rose, go back to sleep," he replied as he could only put his arm around her to get some feeling back in it.

"Want me to move?" she yawned. "Do ya have to go to work?"

"There is no hurry, move in your own time," he told her, beginning to like having someone with him when he woke up who didn't start having a go at him.

He put his other hand on hers as she didn't make any attempt to move.

"Mmm, this is nice, ya don't mind do ya?" she wondered. "You kissed my forehead."

"I know, I was returning the gesture from yesterday," he made the excuse.

"Well I had thought of kissing ya but ya might have objected," she teased him. "Would ya have?"

"Stop it Rose," he told her. "I still don't think it is such a good idea."

"Maybe I can change ya mind?" she teased him even more. "Aw come on Alec, what harm is there?"

He couldn't think of any at present but it was bound to start getting complicated, if she was Rose Tyler and she went home. Was there any harm in making her feel more welcome while she had no-one else? He knew his DS would disagree but Rose wasn't staying with Ellie Miller, was she?

Rose looked up at him and smiled, Alec picking some hair out of his mouth. He gave her a smile and leaned down slightly until he was a fraction away.

"If I were to admit it, then maybe there is no harm in it but what if someone does claim you and you start to remember?" he asked.

Rose pulled back slightly.

"I'd still know who ya were Alec, I wouldn't just forget ya," she told him.

"Well you would go off to your family," he pointed out as Rose propped herself up.

"Maybe not right away," Rose replied. "I wouldn't just go off ya Alec. Don't think I only need ya right now, I'll need ya even when someone finds me. I'll have to take their word for things, I can't just go off with someone I don't know."

"I would not let you Rose, things will have to be established. I suppose you will be here a while, until you start remembering?" he had to admit.

"Yeah, ya great big 'nana," Rose laughed.

She leaned forward again until their lips met. The next thing Alec knew, his phone was ringing and he was deprived of Rose kissing him, her arms around his neck as she lay on him and he'd lost his t-shirt.

"Hardy, where are you?" Ellie Miller asked him, sounding annoyed. "Didn't your alarm go off? I came in early to get finished and you're usually here already."

"What's the rush Miller?" he asked as he tried to get Rose to stop kissing his now bare chest, not remembering how he'd got like that.

"Well suit yourself then but I'd have thought you'd want to give Rose some time here to go through what happens when she starts remembering?"

"She does not have to come to the station Miller, not until we are sure who she actually is," Alec reminded her as Rose gave him a wicked smile.

"Well you'll have to do that yourself," Ellie told him. "If I've left when you get here, I'll see you on the day."

"Have I made ya late?" Rose asked as she took his t-shirt from the headboard and put it on while trying to cover herself with the sheet.

"Rose, I am usually early, Miller is just annoyed she'd got there before me. A bit late to be hiding," he replied as she pulled the t-shirt down.

"Well ya never actually saw me earlier," Rose insisted as she let him up.

"You got a very good view of my chest," he reminded her. "It works both ways Rose."

"Yeah? Does that mean it's not a bad idea any more?" she smiled as he got out of bed.

"What do you think?" he told her while raising his eyebrows.

Rose put her arms around his neck and leaned on him.

"I feel much better today. I might go for a walk later. Want to meet for lunch? I mean I've no money for anything."

"Then I will leave you some but there is not much around here, apart from the newsagents and the bakery next door to it. There is a café just outside the police station, I will meet you there at twelve thirty. I will also leave you my spare phone, for if you need me."

"Thanks. You get dressed, I'll make some breakfast," she offered.

He got his things from the dresser and the wardrobe and went off to the bathroom, knowing Rose was disappointed he'd not chosen to get changed in the bedroom. He had to go easy on her or it would be difficult for both of them to part company.

He went off to work, Rose giving him a proper kiss this time and she put the radio on, wondering if any of the news reports would mention she was missing. She heard nothing and went down to the newsagents, getting some magazines and a daily newspaper and waited until it was time to meet Alec. She could see right across the harbour and tried to spot the police station but guessed it was hidden away somewhere but he'd given her directions.

She set off just after twelve, taking the phone with her and the change she'd got earlier. She'd looked in the newspaper but there was nothing about her in it. What was stopping anyone, especially this Pete Tyler Alec kept going on about. Was she part of this organisation he'd talked about? She just had to wait and see but how would she cope if it was true?

Alec was about to set off to meet Rose when the chief stood in his office doorway.

"What's happening over the young woman who was found?" she wanted to know.

He wished she would just leave it to him.

"I am working on it," he replied. "I have reason to believe she might be Rose Tyler, stepdaughter of Pete Tyler."

"What makes you think that?" she asked him. "What proof is there?"

"She had no ID on her, she could be working for Torchwood and lost her memory in some kind of accident," he replied, clearing his desk.

"Then why hasn't she been reported missing? Surely they would have noticed one of their agents was missing by now?" he was asked.

"Not if they don't know she's missing," Alec replied. "If she was sent on some kind of mission, that could explain her memory loss. There is something else, she seems to remember something about the Cybermen."

"I've not heard anything about them in a long time Alec. No-one talks about them," he was reminded.

"I know everyone wanted to forget them but if she lost her memory, they could be fresh in her mind," Alec told her. "I was going to wait until tomorrow and then try and contact Torchwood, see if they would admit that she is missing."

"You should do it now Alec," the chief insisted. "The sooner she's returned to her family, the better."

"I don't agree. What if she's not Rose Tyler? What if they deny she's missing?"

"Then take whoever you need and get them working on a solution Alec," the chief suggested. "Then contact Torchwood and see if it is her. If they say no, then it rules them out. Well you'll be responsible for her until someone does come forward. Try not to get too involved with her other than being a friend."

She was about to leave when she turned back.

"What are you going to do over the holidays if she's still with you?"

"DS Miller invited us to her house," Alec replied, wanting to go and meet Rose.

"You really should have left her with Ellie," she told him.

"She does not have the room," Alec replied, getting his coat. "Rose would not get her memory back with a teenager, a young boy and Miller's father around the place. She needs peace and quiet, which what she will get at my place. I am saving the police paying for a hotel room for her."

The chief put her hands up.

"Fine, you're in charge until the 27th, then you can have some time off," she reminded him. "Try not to upset Torchwood if they come for her."

"I won't let her go with anyone until I am certain they have the right person."

Rose had gone inside the café and ordered a drink and Alec saw her as he passed the window.

"I got held up by the chief," he explained. "Want something to eat?"

Pete Tyler had gone to work after telling Jackie and Tony he would do all he could to get Rose home safely. There was no news from Jake when he arrived.

"I want to try going after her Pete," Jake told him before Mickey joined them.

Mickey had been very quiet, which surprised both of them.

"Have they traced that spike?" Pete wanted to know.

"They think so," Jake replied. "It was definitely a drop out, as they call it and before she crossed over. Something got in her way but that's not surprising."

"It's never happened before," Mickey interrupted. "It had to be a Cyberman or a Dalek to cause it."

"We know that already," Pete told him. "Jake, can it be recreated, without whatever interrupted her passage?"

"Only one way to find out and that's trying," Jake replied. "Can ya stop someone when they reach that spike?" he then asked the lead technician. "Mickey, you follow and get ready for anything floating about in there."

"You are kidding?" Mickey asked him.

"Do I look like I am?" Jake shouted at him.

"Stop it, both of you," Pete ordered them. "No-one's going yet, we give her another day. She could be still in this time for all we know and just not knowing who she is. Tomorrow I'll contact the chief of police and ask for his help in finding her. Until then, the cannon is out of bounds unless Rose comes back through it."

Chapter 5

This chapter's a bit long but I wanted to wrap it up!

Pete knew both of them would do anything to get Rose back, even though things were for some reason difficult between Rose and Mickey.

"You can both prepare to go but only as a last resort. I'm off to compose what I want to say if we have to put out an nationwide press release. If we get nothing back from the police, then we have to be ready," Pete announced.

"How long are ya giving the police?" Jake asked him.

"Until Christmas morning. Then I'll notify the press office and have them release a photo of Rose, saying she may have lost her memory and not know who she is so her surname won't be published. I'll get the police chief to agree that it's a police matter and I'll offer a reward for any information that leads to her safe return."

"Isn't that a bit risky?" Mickey wanted to know.

"No-one will get anything until we get Rose back," Pete assured them. "She'll need a lot of support if she's lost her memory."

"Yeah, she'll get it but Mickey had better not try and fool her into thinking they still go out together," Jake looked at his friend.

"I wouldn't do that," Mickey complained. "She'll get help."

Pete shook his head at the two of them. What was going on between Mickey and Rose and Jake was taking her side? Had she told him something she'd not even told himself and her mother that had upset Mickey? He went off to his office to write what he wanted to say, nothing too emotional, just that everyone missed her but without mentioning she was his stepdaughter.

That would do more harm than good but he hoped he wouldn't have to release anything to the media, that she may have already been found by the police. She could have been anywhere since they realised she was actually missing. Hopefully, she was in the present time or a few days out, if it was more, it could cause complications.

He picked his phone up and broke the news to Jackie.

"Just send me a recent photo of Rose," he told her after he said he was putting out an appeal for information.

"Well it was your idea she kept out of the papers," Jackie reminded him.

"She wanted it that way Jaks," Pete told her. "She never wanted to be famous. We'll get her back but you have to be prepared that it might take a bit longer. There's something else, I'll tell you when I get home. Has Tony mentioned seeing Santa again?"

"No, he's upset Rose can't take him," Jackie relied. "He might let Jake or Mickey take him."

"I'll come home early, there's nothing much I can do here anyway. I'll call my friend in the police and ask him to send her description to all stations, see if she's been found."

He called the chief of police, who was only too happy to help.

"Of course Pete, you want her home for Christmas," his friend told him. "Just email me the details and I'll get my secretary to start sending it out to all stations. Did you say she might have lost her memory?"

"We think she may have done Patrick," Pete admitted. "There's one other thing. I'm only allowing her full name to be released to your chiefs. I don't want any false sightings."

"That's understandable Pete," his friend agreed. "Given who she is. So, she went missing on Torchwood business then?"

"That's all I can say," Pete replied. "I'll attach a recent photo, I'm just waiting for Jackie to send me one. I'll be grateful for your help."

"Think nothing of it Pete, we'll help you find her. Are you taking it further if we don't have any luck?"

"I have to, she could be anywhere," Pete replied. "I know you'll do your best."

Alec had taken Rose back home and he was encouraging her to try to remember something about herself.

"I just can't Alec," Rose told him sadly. "Guess I'll have to believe anyone who claims to know me then?"

"I promise no-one will take advantage of the situation. We can go out somewhere tomorrow, if you want? Down the coast somewhere? I will give you some money to get something to wear for when we go to DS Miller's house," he offered.

He imagined if she really was Rose Tyler, she would have expensive tastes.

"Yeah, I'd like that Alec, thanks," Rose smiled.

"Weymouth is quite large, you should find some dress shops there," he told her.

"I wish I could get ya a present Alec but I can't really buy one with the money you give me."

"Do not worry about it. Maybe you can get something for DS Miller's young son and maybe some chocolates for her?" he suggested.

Rose agreed and said she wanted to watch TV and Alec said he should call his daughter.

"Hi Dad, how's things?" Daisy greeted him. "Missing me already?"

"Yes, I wish you had stayed, I could have done with your help," he replied.

"Oh, what with?" Daisy was curious. "You've not got yourself a girlfriend have you?" she teased him.

"That depends how you look at it," he admitted. "We found someone the day before yesterday who was lost and who had no idea who she is. I could not just abandon her so I invited her to stay here."

"What?" Daisy asked him. "In my room?"

"Well yes. She stayed in hospital the first day, she was unconscious when she was found. They would have maybe kept her there but apart from the memory loss and a few bruises, she was fine. I could not just leave her to fend for herself."

"Geez Dad, she could be anyone," Daisy told him.

"We think we know who she is but will have yet to confirm it," he admitted. "Don't worry about it, if I am right and don't tell your mother," he laughed.

"Okay, I'll try not to, you can explain it to her," Daisy laughed back. "Will she still be there when I get back?"

"I don't know. If someone comes forward saying they are her family, I will have to be certain before I let her go. So, call me on the day then?"

"Yeah, I will Dad. Sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I think you would like Rose. She only lost her memory of recent events and her name, she knows everything else," he replied.

"So, you've made friends with her?" Daisy wanted to tease him even more. "You said she wasn't your girlfriend.

"She's not but she had no-one else Daisy, she needs a friend," he replied. "I took her out for a while last night and we had been shopping after she got out of hospital, she needed something else to wear. We are going to DS Miller's house for Christmas dinner as well."

"Wow Dad, that's the most you've done since I went to live with you," Daisy replied. "She sounds like a girlfriend to me then."

"I don't need you teasing me," Alec told her. "She may be gone at any time, if someone finds her."

"You'll have to let her go Dad," Daisy reminded him. "Let me know what happens."

Alec agreed and went back to join Rose, who was watching an afternoon movie of the disaster kind.

"Interesting?" he asked as he sat beside her. "Want a drink?"

Rose nodded and leaned over to kiss his cheek.

"Yeah, it's good," she told him as the adverts came on. "Is your daughter okay?"

"She is fine and I told her you were staying in her room. She teased me that you were my girlfriend."

Rose started to laugh.

"Well, everyone's gonna think that, if we keep going out."

"Well, I guess I will just have to admit it then?" he decided.

Was there really any harm in it for a few days, as long as it didn't get serious? He could keep in touch with her if she went home or maybe she'd choose to stay until she got her memory back? He offered to take her out again later but Rose insisted they stayed in.

Pete had got home and told Jackie that he had set things in motion to try and find her daughter.

"I hope she's already been found Pete," Jackie told him. "If word goes out tomorrow, we should get to know something. Tony really misses her."

"I know he does. I don't have to go in for long tomorrow, I will take him to see Santa. Best not say anything about Rose until we know for certain."

"Will we have her back in time?" Jackie wanted to know.

"Let's hope so Jackie. Where's Tony?"

When Rose started feeling tired, Alec gave her the choice of going back in Daisy's room or his. When she said his, he gave her time to get changed so she was waiting when he got there.

"We should keep to what we were doing this morning," he reminded her. "Let's see how things go?"

When Rose fell asleep on him, he had his arm around her and she had wanted him to keep his t-shirt off. He was hoping when she went shopping again that she would get a nightdress. The next morning, they fooled around for a while and Rose wanted to up the stakes.

"Oh, you want me to change my shorts in here?" he teased her as he nipped at where her pyjama top buttons were undone.

Rose giggled and nodded, her arms around his neck. If it made her happy, he thought why not as he got out of bed and went to the drawer. He took his time, knowing she was watching from where she was propped up on the pillow by her elbows.

"Enjoying yourself?" he asked as he went for a clean shirt.

"Um, yeah. I should get dressed," she managed to say.

"Hold on there, now it is my turn," he replied.

"I'm too shy," she insisted.

"I don't think so Rose," Alec smiled as he saw she was watching him fasten his shirt buttons. "I will let you off, just this once but you can start tomorrow morning."

"So, ya think I'll still be here tomorrow then?" she sounded worried.

"Rose, if someone comes for you today, will you want to go with them if you don't know them?" he asked her.

Rose shook her head.

"I suppose not? I mean someone will be missing me by now but I still won't know them."

"Exactly," he agreed as he put his hands on her shoulders then pulled her close.

He kissed her forehead then leaned down to kiss her properly. He was growing fond of her and may not be able to let her go.

She put her arms around him and looked up at him.

"I might not want to go with them Alec."

"Then I will not let anyone take you away if you do not want to go," he promised. "You get dressed here, I will be in the bathroom."

He took the rest of his things and left her to get ready. She wondered how she could have been so lucky to meet someone like Alec, he had been the perfect gentleman up until now. She was going to have trouble leaving. After breakfast, Alec promised he'd be back soon and they would go down to Weymouth. Since neither the chief or Ellie were there, he soon got through any new missing persons reports that had come in but there was nothing that matched Rose's description.

He called Rose to tell her to be ready and they would set off and ten minutes after he left, he received an email. He usually got them sent to his phone and he heard the tone but since he was driving, he left it. They arrived in Weymouth and parked by the railway station, near to the shopping area.

"Want some time on your own?" Alec asked her.

He gave her some money and they agreed they'd meet in the coffee shop in an hour.

"Maybe get yourself something nice to wear in bed?" he suggested before Rose went off.

He decided he would go into a menswear store and see if he could get some proper sleep shorts, then remembered he'd got an email earlier and that he should read it, just in case it was about Rose. So getting what he needed and a present for Rose, he headed for the coffee shop to wait for her.

He got his phone out and brought up the email app and went to the most recent one named 'Important information'.

There staring at him was a photo of Rose with the heading 'Be on the lookout for this missing person – Rose Tyler'.

Pete's friend had decided most senior detectives should be given Rose's name but have instructions not to pass it on to junior officers. There was a description of her and it stated she may have no recollection of who she was. It also said to approach her with caution if she was confused and to get her to the safety of the nearest police station and report directly to Pete Tyler.

So that's what the director of Torchwood suspected – that something had gone wrong with one of their experiments. They were very secrecy minded when it came to what even the police should know but he intended asking some questions as to why poor Rose and been deposited on the beach with no memories.

He thought he should tell her before he rang anyone. He couldn't just ring the number and say he may have found the man's stepdaughter. Pete Tyler would ask a load of questions but Rose probably couldn't answer them at present. She joined him in the coffee shop and he went to get her a drink. Then he was trying to see what she had bought in the way of nightwear.

"Ah-ah, no peeking," Rose smiled and tapped his hand, making him smile as well.

"I take it that it's something interesting then?" he asked her.

"I might let ya find out tonight," Rose teased him.

"I most certainly hope so," he teased her back. "After all, I have money invested in it."

That was the problem, he supposed? She was fully dependant on him at present. He did still wonder what the card was that she'd had on her, was it a Torchwood invention for getting funds or just for making a phone call? How was he going to break the news to her?

He reached over the table and took her hand.

"We need to talk Rose, I have something to tell you."

"Oh. Ya mean someone contacted the police about me?" she wondered.

He could hardly deny it.

"Yes Rose, I got an email about you, from the chief of police," he admitted. "It has not been made public yet that you are missing, I expect Pete Tyler wanted to keep it quiet for now."

"I hope so, I don't want everyone pointing to me all the time," Rose was worried.

"They won't do that, they will give the police time to find you. Well, let's go home and give Pete Tyler a call?" Alec replied.

"Do ya have to?" Rose was still worried. "If you call, he'll want me to go to wherever he is and ya said it's Christmas day tomorrow. Leave it for now, please Alec?"

"Rose, I am obliged to tell him love," he insisted. "I can say I suspect it's you and for him to come down here, the day after tomorrow. He will need to judge for himself, he can't do that over the phone or a video call. He will want to ask questions."

"Well he'll be out of luck on that score," Rose replied. "What can I tell him?"

"There may be one thing or two but we will save them until we meet him. You are not in this alone Rose, I promise."

"Ya mean the card I had in my pocket?" Rose asked. "Oh and the Doctor I mentioned though I don't know much, just that I travelled with him. The rest is gone, sorry. Do ya think he'll know who it is?"

"He may do but don’t mention either of them until we are sure," Alec warned her.

They got back to Broadchurch and Alec retrieved the special number given in the email. Jake had set it up and was seeing to it personally. Pete's friend had called him that morning after forwarding a copy of the email to him.

"Thanks for your help," Pete had told the chief. "I hope it does some good."

"If she's somewhere in the country, every officer will be on the lookout for her Pete," the chief assured him.

"That's just it, we're not sure she is," Pete had to admit. "We'll try this then go public after the holidays, I don't want to upset my wife tomorrow, things will be bad enough. I don't want any false sightings."

"Yes, well I was glad to help and I hope if your stepdaughter has been wandering around that she's noticed by someone," his friend told him.

Pete just hoped that Rose was in this dimension, let alone in the country. She could even be in the past or the future, which could be tricky, she could turn up tomorrow out of the blue somewhere or if she realised she was in the past, she'd stay out of the way until her future self had gone off but she would have appeared by now, not that he understood how things worked.

That was if she knew who she was and how she'd got where she was. If she didn't, then it was down to his plan. Jake had promised the phone number would be answered any time of the day or night until Rose was found. He was about to take Tony to the mall when Jake called.

"Everything's set up boss," he told Pete. "Let's hope someone's seen her in the last few days."

They had just finished talking when Pete got another call.

"Director, I have a DI Alec Hardy on the special phone number. He said he may have seen Miss Tyler."

"Then put him through," Pete told the operator.

He'd heard that name before, the man had been in the media several times and Rose had tried to ignore him or she'd have been on her way to find out if he was The Doctor hiding himself.

"DI Hardy, you have some news for me?" Pete asked him.

"Sir, I have reason to believe your stepdaughter is here in Broadchurch. She was found on the beach with no memories of who she was."

Alec went on the explain that Rose was confused and injured when she was found and gradually, he had wondered if she was indeed Rose Tyler and had been working for Torchwood.

"So is she with you now?" Pete dared hope.

"She is but at present, we can't say for sure when she will get her memory back. Maybe we should do a video call?" Alec suggested.

Rose was shaking her head so he covered his phone.

"Best to get it out of the way Rose," he encouraged her.

"Well okay then, if ya think so?" Rose had to agree.

"I will contact you on a secure video call," Pete told him.

Pete called Jake to set up the call and Jake sent the link to Alec to join them. While Alec waited, he tried to assure Rose she'd be okay.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine," he told her.

"Will you talk to him?" Rose asked him.

"He will want to talk to you," Alec reminded her.

"What do you reckon Boss?" Jake had asked Pete.

"Let's hope it's not someone who's fooled the detective into thinking it's Rose," Pete replied. "I didn't expect to get a response so soon. Whoever's with him, if it's not Rose would have to have known she was missing so it narrows it down somewhat."

"Pete, no-one does know so if someone's tryin' to fool him, they're risking it a bit," Jake told him. "They've got nothin' to gain."

Pete supposed Jake was right. No-one did know she was missing, she could have been delayed due to the time differences but it was looking like they were right at first, that she'd been knocked out of the stream by something. He bet it was a stray Cyberman or Dalek and thank goodness they'd not fallen out with her, the whole world would be in danger because it would only take one Dalek to over-run the planet.

He knew Rose had been terrified of them at one point. Alec had joined the video conference and Pete had introduced Jake to him.

"So, what happened to her?" Alec was wanting to know. "She was found on the beach by a couple walking their dog. They claimed she just appeared so I figured it had something to do with Torchwood."

"Yet you didn't contact us right away?" Pete challenged him.

"I was sceptical, since little is known about your stepdaughter Mister Tyler," Alec replied.

"For a good reason, detective inspector," Pete told him, making Jake smile they were challenging each other and very few people challenged Pete Tyler, especially about his stepdaughter.

"Well she was unconscious when she was found and quite badly bruised, like she had collided with something," Alec admitted. "To just appear like that and being injured raised suspicions. When she came round in the hospital, she had no memory of how she had arrived on the beach."

"I see then? So she had no memory of who she was?" Pete wanted to make sure.

"No, other than her name was Rose," Alec told him. "She did have a strange credit card or similar on her."

"Inspector, can you describe what she was wearing when she was found?" Pete then asked, remembering well what Rose had set off in.

"A blue leather jacket, black trousers and a purple top," Alec recalled, getting a smile from Rose. "She is being looked after, I can assure you. Myself and my DS worked out who she could be but we thought it best to wait until Torchwood or yourself made some kind of appeal about her, in case it was denied she was missing."

"Well, we weren't sure she was missing right away. I will have to come down to where you are to discuss it further," Pete told him. "It involves how she could have appeared as she did, it's best I talk to you both in person. Unless you want to bring her up here?" he suggested.

"I think that will be a bit much for her," Alec told him. "Besides, if things go wrong, both Rose and your wife are going to be disappointed."

"Yes, I expect so and we should be cautious?" Pete had to agree. "Will she speak to me?" he asked hopefully.

"Rose?" Alec turned to her, moving his phone slightly.

Rose nodded and did a little wave to Pete.

"Rose, it's good to see you sweetheart," he told her, not wanting to overdo it. "How are you feeling now?"

"A bit sore and my head still hurts," she admitted. "So, you know who I am?"

"Oh yes Rose, I certainly do," Pete smiled. "Your mother and brother both miss you. Tony's waiting for me to take him to the mall to see Santa. He was wanting you to take him."

"Sorry. I guess if I'd been there he would have gone before now?" Rose asked.

"Never mind that now. I'll come down there, the day after tomorrow then?" Pete suggested. "Where should we meet?"

"It's very quiet down here," Alec told him. "If you follow the road to the harbour, just use one of the car parks and call me and I will direct you to where we are. Rose is staying with me for now, my DS would have offered but she already has a house full."

"If she wants to move into a hotel, I'll make sure it's paid for," Pete offered.

"I'd rather stay with Alec," Rose spoke up.

"Well, I'll bring your bank cards and driving licence with me and get your mother to pack some clothes for you and anything else she thinks you may need," Pete replied. "You've no idea how relieved I am you're safe. I'll go tell your mother but I'll put her off calling you for now, she'll have a lot of questions."

"I don't want Rose upsetting if she can't answer them," Alec told him.

"I understand," Pete assured him. "Rose, Jake wants to speak to you, he's one of your friends."

"Yeah, okay then," Rose agreed. "Did I know someone called The Doctor?"

Alec wished she'd not asked that just yet but it was too late.

"Yes but it was a long time ago. You remember him?" Pete asked.

"Just that I travelled with him, nothing else," Rose replied, taking Alec's hand. "Where is he?"

"Don't worry about that for now, I'll tell you when I get there," Pete promised.

"He's right," Alec agreed. "Say hello to your friend."

"Hiya Rose, how are ya?" Jake joined in. "Ya don't remember me or Mickey?"

"Sorry, no," Rose told him. "I'm sure I'll start remembering soon though?"

"Yeah, we have some catching up to do," Jake laughed. "If ya not coming home, what are ya doin' for Christmas then?"

"Staying with Alec. We're off to his DS's house. Are you coming down as well?" Rose wanted to know.

"It's best just your stepfather comes down," Alec told her. "If all goes well, I will take you up there for the new year."

He arranged a time with Pete for meeting and Pete went off to tell Jackie, who gasped when he told her he'd just been talking to Rose.

"She's fine Jaks, she's being looked after by a police detective," Pete assured her. "The only problem is she doesn't remember anything."

"I don't care Pete, I just want to talk to her. That's all I wanted for Christmas, to have her back."

"I know but if she doesn't remember us, she's best staying where she is. There's no point in upsetting her or you and Tony. It'll just make things difficult. Where's Tony, I've still got time to take him to the grotto."

Rose was still trying to come to terms that she had a family who had missed her. Pete had said he'd bring everything with him that she needed and had offered to bring her car but Alec had said there was no need for it. It left Pete wondering just how much the detective was taking care of her.

When Alec took Rose out later, she was still quiet. He hoped she'd come round when she saw her stepfather but he was hoping she wouldn't leave suddenly. When they went to bed, he gave her time to get changed again but she surprised him by sitting up in bed, waiting for him.

"So, do ya like it?" she pointed to the red silky nightdress.

"It's very nice Rose," he admired it as he pulled back the duvet.

"Alec, I'm not just gonna go off when my stepfather gets here," she promised. "I want to stay with you."

"If he insists, I can't stop you Rose," he replied. "It has been really nice having you staying here, when I thought I would be on my own."

"I can make my own mind up Alec," Rose insisted. "He can't make me go back with him."

"He may make you feel guilty not seeing your mother," Alec told her.

"Alec, I want to know more, before I go back there, like who The Doctor was," Rose admitted.

"Well, it will have to wait, he did not want to say," Alec reminded her. "Your friend must have been important to you."

"Alec, ya not jealous are ya?" Rose smiled.

"It's obvious he means a lot to you," Alec insisted.

"Ya are jealous. If they didn't want to talk to him, maybe he's gone off and left me here?" Rose wondered. "We might have only been friends anyway. Alec, right now, I'm here with you and this morning was nice. Can we go for more of that? I'd really like to."

Alec supposed he should take advantage if she was going to stay when she got back to London. After more the next morning, they got ready to go out and arrived at Ellie's house, where Ellie was far from ready to have visitors. Her dad was supposed to be keeping Fred occupied but the young boy was getting in her way. She was glad when Rose and Alec arrived as Rose took pity on her and offered to help.

Alec had taken Fred in the other room and was reading to him, the TV on in the background as Ellie's dad insisted on staying.

"So, is she your girlfriend then?" Alec was asked.

"At present," Alec admitted. "I don't know how long she's staying here."

"Well don't let her leave then," Ellie's dad advised him. "Get her to stay, no point in just letting her leave, when you'll regret it."

Alec thought for once, he might just take the advice given to him. Rose took to Fred, making a fuss over him but when Alec won a pink paper hat in a Christmas cracker and offered it to her, she just stared at it.

"Aren't you going to wear it?" Ellie asked her.

"Rose, are you okay?" Alec was worried. "She just found out who she is. Are you starting to remember something?"

"I had one before Alec, one Christmas. Someone else gave me one."

"The friend you lost?" Alec wondered.

He wondered if she would ever forget. They left just after four and Alec took her for a walk on the harbour pier, which was lit up with white string lights.

"You are always going to remember him Rose," Alec told her.

"He must be gone Alec, or my stepfather would have said," Rose replied. "I'm here now, with you and I want to stay, if ya want?"

"Yes Rose, I want you to stay but you have to go back next week, to see your mother, she will have been worried about you," Alec insisted.

"I can do that. Can we go inside now, it's cold," Rose smiled at him. "Tonight, I don't just want to fool around."

"Neither do I Rose but what about when you get your memory back?"

"I'll still want to stay with you Alec. If I remember who I was before whatever happened to me, then I won't be any different, if that's what ya think?" she asked him. "Oh, it's about how I was found? You might not like what my stepfather tells ya about it and who The Doctor was?"

"It crossed my mind Rose. It had to be some kind of secret project you were on. I'll listen to what he has to say but if he says you were time travelling or something, I may have to think about it."

"What makes ya think that?" Rose laughed.

"You said you were travelling, with this Doctor," he reminded her. "The one thing you could remember. I did not think you meant by car or any other form of transport. Maybe Torchwood was experimenting?"

"I was part of it?" Rose asked. "So, I was on my way somewhere and something went wrong?"

"That would explain things. Maybe you were trying to get to your friend?"

"What was I involved in?" she asked as she let him put his arm around her.

Much later, Alec had his arm around her and she was leaning on him as they lay together in bed. He kissed her forehead and Rose put her arm across him.

"Whatever your stepfather has to say tomorrow, then I will still care about you. I don't want you to leave Rose."

"I don't want to leave Alec, I'll have to get used to my family again. See what he has to say when he gets here."

Pete set off early the next morning. Christmas lunch had been awkward, he knew Jackie was missing Rose and he'd tried to make up for it. Jackie had also found a pink paper hat that had brought back memories.

"Do ya think Rose is enjoying herself?" Jackie had asked as Tony played with a puzzle he'd got.

"I think she'll have been okay, have you got everything ready for her?"

"Yeah and just tell her I miss her Pete," Jackie had replied.

Alec gave him directions once he got to Broadchurch and Pete could see why Rose liked it.

"I'll get straight to the point," Pete began. "Rose was a Torchwood agent and we were using a device that sends a person at great speed into another dimension or another world. She must have hit something when she was crossing what's called 'The Void' and she fell through, landing on the beach."

"We guessed something like that," Alec admitted. "Why was she using it? Was it to find her friend?"

"Yes. He's on a parallel Earth, he stayed there when the Cybermen left," Pete replied.

"I dreamt of these silver creatures," Rose told Pete.

"That's what they are Rose. Cybermen and we all fought hard to get rid of them. You played a big part in it. You were on your way to find your friend, we got lucky and the way was open," Pete explained. "We closed everything down except the signal you were ready to come back. There had been a spike, we were trying to guess where you were."

"Is that where the Cybermen are, in that void?" Alec wanted to know.

"They were trapped there, they were going to take over another world, Rose's friend stopped them," Pete looked at Rose. "I'm sorry Rose, you insisted on going to find him but it all went wrong."

"It landed me here and I met Alec," Rose smiled, taking Alec's arm. "If there was anything I wanted for Christmas, before I went off, I think I got what I wanted."

Pete stayed a while, answering questions and telling Rose to used the bank cards he'd brought her and for her to call her mother. Rose agreed and said she and Alec would go up for the new year. When Pete had left, Alec had a few more questions that needed answering.

"So, you believe what you were told now?"

"Yeah, I have to Alec, that was what I did but now, I don't exactly know who I'm going looking for. I mean it might come back to me but it seems like I lost him a long time ago now," Rose admitted. "I want to stay here with you and just have an ordinary life."

That was good enough for Alec as he put his arm around her. So what if she'd been travelling around with this Doctor? She was here with him now and when Daisy came back, she'd just have to used to the fact he had a live-in girlfriend. He had got what he wanted for Christmas – to not be alone.

The End!

How long are you going to stay with me?

2021-12-25T06:47:00.005-08:00

Rose Tyler wanted more than anything to spend Christmas with her mother, especially after being missing for a year due to The Doctor's bad timing. When he comes back, he's changed and Rose thinks he and Jack are playing a joke on her. Will she finally accept that he's changed just for her?

He drops her off and says he'll see her later but not being able to resist, he goes off with Jack but they are transmatted to the Games Station and are forced to take part in live game shows.

Chapter 1

Rose, Jack and The Doctor were just returning from dropping off Margaret Slitheen, who had been reduced to an egg, Rose saying she was looking forward to spending Christmas as home this year, since she'd been done out of it last time.

"I made it up to you," The Doctor was insisting as he was checking some switches, Rose dying to smack his hands away and telling him to leave them alone.

"Every time ya flip those switches, something goes wrong," she chastised him instead, Jack grinning at the two of them.

"Not every time," The Doctor sulked.

"Aw, do you two want to be alone?" Jack grinned as he was leaning on one of the struts.

"Shut up," both Rose and The Doctor told him. "Fine, you want to go home then?" he asked her.

"It would be nice," Rose replied. "You two don't have to come if ya don't want."

"I expect your mother will be serving nut cutlet?" The Doctor asked.

Rose would have thrown something, had an object been in easy reach of where she was sitting.

"Don't worry about us Rosie," Jack assured her. "You go off and enjoy your traditions."

"I'll be thinking about ya both," Rose grinned from the pilot's seat. "I'll go pack then, shame this ship doesn't have a laundry."

"It does, when she doesn't hide it somewhere," The Doctor replied. "Ask her nicely next time."

"It would have come in useful, my mum thinks that's all I do go home for," Rose told him as she got up. "So, come back on the 27th then?"

"Sure, if I'm still around," Jack replied.

"Why, where are ya going?" Rose wanted to know.

"Here and there," Jack grinned then saw the look of concern on her face. "Okay, I'll stay and say goodbye."

"Good and as for you Doctor," Rose started to warn him. "The 27th, on the dot."

"This isn't a taxi service you can just reserve you know?" he insisted.

"He's just messing with you," Jack assured her. "I'll make sure he comes back."

Rose went off and the Doctor turned to Jack.

"I would have come back for her," he insisted, feeling a bit put out.

"Sure Doc," Jack laughed as The Doctor let go of a lever.

He hated being called that and Jack knew it. Suddenly, the ship jerked as they landed outside Rose's block of flats. Rose knew that was her cue to depart, before she changed her mind. She knew she couldn't just desert her mother again, not that her mother now remembered her actually being missing, it had suddenly faded away.

She put her rucksack on her shoulder, picked up a smaller bag and made her way to the console room.

"Bye Jack, see ya later," Rose went to give him a hug.

"Have a good time," Jack told her.

"Hey, what about me?" The Doctor felt left out.

Rose was sure he didn't go in for hugging all that much but went towards him anyway. He held his hand out instead.

"See ya later Doctor," Rose still tried to hug him.

Deep down, she was sure he didn't think he was good enough for her but he was. They hadn't travelled together all that long but she trusted him. She picked up her things and both of them followed her to the door.

"Hey. We've landed in the right place and time?" Rose joked.

"I thought you trusted me?" the Doctor asked indignantly.

Jack opened the door for her and she stepped out, disappointed it wasn't snowing but she wasn't even certain it was the right time of year yet. She let herself into the block of flats, hearing the sound of the Tardis behind her. She just caught the last swirls of dust as the ship disappeared, knowing the two men wouldn't have been able to resist going off somewhere while they waited for her to return.

Jack was sat watching, The Doctor trying to ignore him.

"Admit it, you'll miss her," Jack teased him.

"I might do, so what?" The Doctor replied.

"She grows on you," Jack laughed. "So, where are we going?"

"I'll put the ship on 'Random' shall I?" he suggested.

He reached for a lever but the ship suddenly pitched and Jack was trying to hold on.

"Hey, what did you do?" he wanted to know.

"Nothing to do with me," The Doctor objected as he checked some switches.

"Rose was right, something always happens when you touch those," Jack told him.

The next thing he remembered was waking up on an examination couch with two droids looking over him.

"Hey, where am I? I was with The Doctor," Jack called out as he sat up and he saw two slightly familiar other androids.

"Where did you get those clothes?" one of them asked him.

"What? These old things?" Jack grinned as he got up. "A little shop in Cardiff."

"They're so old fashioned," the other android told him, standing in front of a machine. "Let's use the defabricator on him."

"What does that thing do?" Jack looked worried.

He soon found out as the clothes he was wearing started to disintegrate. Then he noticed the TV cameras.

"Are we live on TV?" he grinned. "How many channels? Ladies, your viewing figures are about to go up."

The Doctor woke up, lying on a red sofa, a young woman looking over him.

"Steady," she advised him. "It's the transmat, I was sick for days."

"That's not fair, bringing someone in where there's going to be an eviction," another voice spoke up.

"Where am I?" The Doctor asked. "No, don't tell me, I'm not on that stupid programme?"

"Don't call it that or you'll be the one to be evicted," the young woman warned him. "I'm Lynda, with a 'Y'."

"Nice to meet you, Lynda with a 'Y', I'm The Doctor, I think," he grinned as he got up slowly.

"Will all the contestants gather on the sofa," a familiar voice ordered them.

He was pulled back down as the others crammed in the small space. He watched with interest as the loser was announced and they got ready for her departure.

"What's the fuss?" he then asked, picking up a magazine. "She'll be even more famous on the outside."

"Stop it," he was told. "You know what happens when someone leaves."

He tried to ignore what was going on but something didn't seem right to him. Where had Jack got to and how had he got into this setting? He knew the programme, Rose had kept going on about it but why had he been deposited here?

He was horrified as the contestant disappeared in front of him and he was on his feet in no time, feeling for his sonic screwdriver, which was thankfully still in his jacket pocket.

"What's that thing?" he was asked as he was scanning his surroundings.

"There must be a way out," he told the others as the door failed to open.

"It's all be deadlocked sealed, since the contestants tried to escape a while back," Lynda told him.

"I'm here for a reason," The Doctor insisted. "Why do you all just stand there and disintegrate?"

He didn't wait for an answer as he picked something up to get attention.

"Don't do that," he was warned.

"Oh, someone wants me alive, trust me," he insisted and the door suddenly opened. "Who's coming with me?"

"We can't, they'll be trouble," he was told by the young man and woman clinging to each other and Lynda was debating.

"I can save you all," The Doctor insisted.

"I'll go, might as well," Lynda agreed.

Before they knew it, they were standing in a large space and he knew exactly where he was.

"Satellite Five," he declared as large numbers were painted on the walls.

"No-one's called it that for a hundred years," Lynda told him.

Suddenly, The Doctor saw a familiar figure.

"Doctor! You won't believe where I've just been!" Jack told him. "Two droids just tried to carve me up."

"They must have had a reason," The Doctor told him. "This is Lynda."

"Well hello there Lynda," Jack put on his best smile and took her hand.

The Doctor just raised his eyebrows and tried to open the lift doors.

"Stop flirting," he told Jack.

"I don't mind," Lynda insisted.

"Jack, go see how many more are on this floor and get them out," The Doctor suggested.

"Where are you going?" Jack asked him.

"To find out who's in charge here," he looked directly at a camera.

So much was going on at one time but Jack got on with what he was doing then went to find The Doctor.

"Thought I left you in charge down there?" he asked Jack as he held two bits of wire together in one hand and his sonic screwdriver in the other.

"Are you actually doing something?" Jack questioned him. "So have you figured out where the Daleks will enter?"

"So they're really in charge here?" Lynda asked from where she was sitting on a box. "Can I help Doctor?"

She was obviously still freaked out after Jack had used her for his little demonstration, The Doctor thought. Rose would probably have been more suitable for it, at least she knew about the Daleks but Rose was back on Earth, the present day.

"Is it important?" Lynda asked as she agreed to what he'd asked her to do.

"I need to know where they are," The Doctor told her, checking some more wires. "Jack's going to be busy fending them off and I have to make sure my plan will work."

He knew he had no chance whatsoever of getting everything ready before the place was overrun with Daleks but he had to at least try. Why had he gone off and promised Rose they'd both be back for her? Now, she would think they'd both deserted her and she wouldn't even wait to see if they did come back.

"Doctor!" a voice interrupted his thoughts. "Tell them the truth, that your plan will not work."

"Yes it will," The Doctor bluffed. "Take no notice," he urged Lynda and Jack.

Then, he heard the most awful sound of gunfire and Dalek weaponry from below, followed by the sound of screaming and he knew whoever Jack had encouraged to fight back had failed.

"What was that?" Lynda sounded worried.

"Nothing, concentrate," she was encouraged.

"Tell her the truth, Doctor," the emperor of the Daleks told him.

"You're safe down there, it's heavily shielded," The Doctor assured her.

"I hope so," Lynda replied as she watched the screen of where the Daleks currently were.

Then, she looked away and came face to face with a lone Dalek looking through the glass at her.

"They found me," she stated calmly.

"Don't worry, that glass will hold," she was promised.

He didn't see the look of horror on her face as the Dalek aimed at the glass and it shattered. He did hear her scream though. So did Jack. He thanked all that he knew that Rose was safe back in her own time.

Meanwhile, things were going to plan as Rose and her mother prepared Christmas dinner for the following day.

"Call Mickey and remind him what time to get himself here," Jackie was telling Rose. "Or are ya going out with him later?"

Rose had been glad to discover it was Christmas Eve when she had got home and they had done some last minute shopping and decorated the tree.

"I can't face going out with him Mum," Rose admitted as she pulled the leaves off the sprouts.

Why was she doing it when she didn't even like them, she asked herself as she put another one in a pan of water.

"Well come down the pub with me then?" Jackie suggested, wiping her hands. "We can't do much else tonight, I'll put the turkey in the oven when we get back, then put the trimmings in with it."

"I wonder what Jack and the Doctor are doing?" Rose mused. "Probably sneaked off somewhere else where it's Christmas."

"Forget about them sweetheart," Jackie urged her. "They chose to go off and although I don't like that man, he brought you back for the holidays, at the right time as well."

"I suppose so Mum?" Rose had to admit. "I'll go get changed then we'll walk down to the pub. I expect everyone will be rowdy by now."

Jackie let it go as Rose insulted her friends.

"Someone might be sober enough to give us a ride home," she laughed.

"Not a repeat of last New Year's Eve I hope?" Rose replied. "Did I tell ya about that weird bloke in the shadows?"

"Yeah, ya should be more careful who ya talk to," Jackie just laughed. "Well I suppose it was just someone on their way home who fell down and was too embarrassed when they woke up?"

"You're probably right Mum," Rose had to agree now she thought about it but what had made her remember all of a sudden?

"We should have got a new tree Rose," Jackie then remarked, messing with some red baubles.

"Why? Do ya want one that spins or something?" Rose laughed.

"Very funny," Jackie replied as she let go. "It might chase us or something."

"Now who's being funny?" Rose asked. "Hurry up Mum or we won't get a seat and I'm not standing up all night while the blokes sit there drinking and not offering to let us sit down."

"They're all the same," Jackie agreed. "I hope it don't snow while we're in there."

"We walked home in the snow last new year," Rose recalled. "What's the weather forecast anyway?"

"I never took any notice, they were going on about this satellite on it's way to Mars or somewhere so I turned it off," Jackie admitted.

"Another one?" Rose asked her. "Hey that was Harriet Jones talking about it."

"Yeah, she's the new prime minister ya know?" Jackie asked her. "No-one believes me that ya know her."

"Best leave that Mum," Rose suggested. "It's just another probe and a waste of money, The Doctor told me no-one lives on Mars any more so I don't know what they expect to find. Hey, they'd better not attract attention and we get invaded!" she laughed.

"As long as himself's left the planet, we'll probably be safe enough," Jackie replied as she went off.

"It's not fair, blamin' him for everything," Rose told her.

"He's like a magnet Rose," Jackie remarked. "I still blame him for that green thing exploding in Mickey's kitchen, I bet he still can't get that stuff off the walls."

"Mum, it won't make any difference to the mess in his kitchen," Rose replied dryly. "Well hurry up and get changed then."

"You have some room to talk," her mother laughed.

A few hours later, they were laughing and joking with their friends and relatives, Rose stopping to think about Jack and The Doctor now and then but trying to enjoy herself. Jackie noticed she looked distant from time to time. She had to admit that now Rose had got the taste for time travelling, there wouldn't be much to keep her at home.

"Wondering what they're doin'?" she asked Rose when they went to the ladies room.

"I can't help it Mum," Rose admitted. "He'd just better come back for me."

"He wouldn't dare forget ya," her mother joked.

Rose hoped she was right. As usual, they ended up walking home but at least it remained dry but cold. Rose wearily climbed into bed, wishing she'd heard the sound of the Tardis returning but it remained quiet. She thought maybe they'd change their minds and turn up at some point tomorrow.

The Doctor was holding the last of the wires together just as his enemy was taunting him again, this time in front of him.

"I mean it," The Doctor warned the emperor of the Daleks.

"Are you killer or coward?" he was asked, hoping Jack would turn up and whisk him away in the Tardis but unless Jack crept in without being seen, he doubted it.

Jack had run out of ammunition and was using a handgun, then remembered he was wearing his Vortex Manipulator so he ducked around a corner and quickly adjusted the co-ordinates to lock onto the Tardis, which he'd been working on.

He landed inside and rushed to the door.

"Doctor!" he called out. "Do it now, I got you covered," Jack shouted.

"You are a coward," the emperor told him.

"No, I'm a survivor," The Doctor replied, hoping the wires were long enough to reach the ship as he stepped backwards, Jack ready to grab him.

Before he knew it, there was a flash in front of him, then he was lying on the ship's grating and Jack had put the Tardis in flight.

"Still with me then?" Jack laughed, stepping away from the console. "I set the flight plan for Earth, when we left Rose. You're glowing by the way."

"Not surprising, considering," The Doctor grinned, feeling something was happening. "No, step back," he urged Jack as he tried to help him up. "I'm about to regenerate."

"Yeah, I gathered that Doc," Jack replied. "I heard Timelords do that, a way of cheating death. The question is, what are you regenerating in to?"

The Doctor was now stumbling towards the centre console, then held out his arms as the force took hold.

"Tell Rose," he started to tell Jack. "Tell her she was great."

"You can tell her yourself, stop talking like that," Jack shrugged his shoulders.

"So were you," The Doctor added as he burst into a bright light.

Jack wasn't quite prepared for what emerged when things settled down.

"Well, that's weird," the new Doctor declared as he stood in the same clothes as the previous version of himself. "New teeth," he then stated, rolling his tongue over them.

Then he noticed his clothes were two sizes too big for him.

"Oh. I'm smaller as well," he admitted. "Something happened?"

"You don't remember?" Jack managed to ask him.

"Not really, no. My voice changed as well," the new Doctor realised.

"Have you finished making a list?" Jack then wanted to know. "You need to land this thing."

"Things are a bit fuzzy," he was told as the new Doctor took stock of himself, which amused Jack.

"Well, what do we do, crash land?" Jack asked him. "You had better start remembering who you are."

The new Doctor tightened the belt he was wearing.

"What am I?" he dared asked "Oh, wait a minute."

Jack saw they were running out of time as the Tardis gave a warning sound and a big red circle around an area on the screen.

"Get over here – now!" he shouted to the still confused new Doctor. "It had better come back to you and soon.

The new Doctor stood for a moment and suddenly snapped out of it, bounding up to join Jack.

"No need to shout," The Doctor then grinned as he pulled some switches and pushed a lever, making the ship bounce off a nearby corner of a wall, narrowly missing a post box and skidded into a corner by some large bins.

"Great landing Doc," Jack remarked as he got up off the floor.

"You wanted a landing, don't complain," he was told as The Doctor put the handbrake on.

Upstairs in the Tyler flat, Rose heard a familiar noise and threw down a tea cloth on the kitchen counter.

"Rose, where are ya goin'?" her mother asked her as she dashed out of the kitchen.

"Didn't ya hear it?" Rose asked her. "He's back," she added as she ran to the door.

"Just what I needed," Jackie muttered as she followed. "Why am I interested?"

"Because that didn't sound like the Tardis landing normally, that's why," Rose shouted behind her.

She leaned over the balcony, seeing the ship by some loose bin bags in a corner and a chunk of brickwork missing from a wall.

"Well his drivin's a bit off," Jackie had to agree. "So, where is he then? Is that Jack still with him?"

"Stop it Mum," Rose chortled. "Are ya coming?"

"He'll be out and just as annoying as he was before he went off," Jackie scoffed.

"Well no-one's come out yet and that landing was a bit over the top even for him," Rose replied. "Stay here then."

"Well as long as there's no more of those green bog monsters," Jackie agreed as she closed the door after making sure she had her key.

Rose shook her head and went off to the stairs, her mother behind her. Jack had picked himself up and was watching the monitor.

"So who's gonna explain this to Rose?" he wanted to know.

"Rose? What about her?" The Doctor asked him.

"Rose, young, blonde?" Jack reminded him.

"Wasn't she with us?"

"We dropped her off, remember? She wanted to stay for Christmas," Jack grinned as he headed for the door after seeing Rose and her mother come out of the block of flats. "She wasn't with us back on the games station."

"Oh. Now I remember. I didn't blow it up did I?" The Doctor asked.

"I was too busy rescuing you," Jack told him. "Are you staying there?"

The Doctor stayed where he was, just in case Rose objected to him changing his appearance. He'd still not looked yet to see how it had turned out. Sometimes, well most times, he was disagreeable, especially his sixth and his last one but he felt different this time.

He knew Rose had to choose if she wanted to stay with him or not, he couldn't force her to go. Jack had opened the door and Rose had approached it, just as Mickey joined them.

"You heard it as well?" Rose asked him.

"Who could miss it?" Mickey wanted to know.

"Well if it isn't Mickey Mouse?" Jack's voice came from inside as one door creaked open.

"Jack!" Rose greeted him. "You two are a bit early, it's still Christmas Day here."

"Yeah, well. You'd better prepare yourself Rosie," Jack warned her. "There's been a few things going on while we were gone."

"Whatcha mean?" Rose was puzzled. "Where is he?"

She pushed past him and peered inside, seeing the giveaway leather jacket sleeve behind the centre column.

"Doctor?" she asked quietly, wondering why he was hiding.

He thought it was now or never. She would either ask questions or run back home when she saw him. So he popped his head around the large column and hoped for the best.

"There you are," he greeted her.

"Who the hell are you?" she wanted to know as she stepped backwards and almost collided with Mickey.

"Tell Rose I'll see her around," Jack was talking to Jackie, who refused to go inside the alien ship.

"Why, where are ya going?" Jackie asked him.

"No idea, she'll find me, if she wants," Jack replied.

"What did ya mean by a few changes?"

Before she could stop him, he went off so she just stared after him, hoping Rose didn't ask too many questions.

"Where's The Doctor? Are you one of Jack's friends playin' tricks on me?" Rose challenged him.

"No Rose, it's me, The Doctor," he tried to assure her as he stepped out, after tightening the belt as far as it would go.

"You nicked his clothes as well," Rose told him. "Mickey, do somethin'."

"Like what?" Mickey replied. "Like she said, who are ya?"

"I might have known Mickey the idiot would come with you," The Doctor told Rose. "It's me, honestly. Had a bit of a run-in with some Daleks, then I changed, I regenerated. It's this trick that Timelords have, a way of cheating death."

"I don't believe you, bring the other Doctor out, wherever ya have him stashed," Rose replied, standing her ground.

"Rose, I am literally him, why don't you believe me?" he asked her. "Okay, in that department store basement, what did I say to you?"

"You're supposed to be him, you tell me," Rose challenged him.

"Fine. I asked your name and told you to run," he replied, hoping he'd convinced her.

Rose clasped her hands over her mouth.

"He could've told Jack that, to tell you," she still wasn't convinced.

"Blimey, what do I have to do to convince you?" The Doctor wanted to know, rubbing his hands over his face. "Have I got two heads or something?"

"She's right, Captain Cheesecake could've put you up to this," Mickey agreed.

"Where's Jackie? She'll believe me," The Doctor decided.

"Huh, you're joking," Rose replied more confidently. "Okay, I'll go for it, if ya answer another question 'cos it's almost time to eat and mum left pans on the stove and Jack won't know the answer to this."

"Fine, anything you want," The Doctor agreed, thinking he must look a mess.

He was also dying to find out how he looked this time. Last time, he hadn't really known until he'd looked in Rose's mirror.

"Right, if you're The Doctor, why did you come back for me when I said no to going with ya?"

"Do I have to answer in front of Mickey?" the Doctor asked. He saw the look on Rose's face that said what did he think? "I never go back for anyone, well not until I met you."

He went up to her, making Rose flinch as he whispered in her ear.

"Doctor," was all she could think of saying.

"It really is me Rose," he finally convinced her.

"Yeah, sorry. I get that now," she apologised. "Don't know about convincing my mum out there though."

"Ah, yes," the new Doctor agreed as Mickey just stared at them.

"Someone want to tell me what's going on?" a puzzled Mickey asked.

"Not now Mickey," they both told him at once after they hugged.

Mickey thought he might have known. The Doctor had indeed changed and then some. Now, he'd never get Rose back.

"Come on Doctor, ya have to face my mum yet," Rose reminded him.

Mickey went out first as Rose took The Doctor's hand.

"Where's Rose?" Jackie asked him as he emerged. "What's going on?"

"Where's Jack?" Mickey asked her before she could say anything else.

"He went off, he never said where," Jackie replied. "What was he goin' on about changes?"

"You'd better ask Rose," Mickey told her.

The Doctor had stopped in the doorway.

"I think I'd best get changed first, don't you?" he grinned at Rose.

"Well yeah, ya do look a bit odd," Rose admitted. "So this regeneration, how does it work then?"

"Like I said, it's a way of cheating death, we regenerate instead but we never know how we're going to end up looking. What do I look like then? Am I ginger?"

"No, just brown," Rose revealed, reaching up to his hair. "Ya've got more of it though."

"Well that's good to know. I'll join you later then?"

"You'd better," Rose told him.

"What the hell is going on?" Jackie wanted to know when they emerged. "Who's this?"

"Mum, it's the Doctor, he's changed," Rose began to explain.

"The Doctor?" Jackie gasped. "Doctor who?"

"It's me Jackie," he tried to convince her. "Rose, I'll catch up with you."

"You two have some explaining to do," Jackie warned them. "Don't think either of you'll get out of it."

"Leave him Mum, he convinced me it was him, something happened to him."

The Doctor had gone off to the Tardis wardrobe and was going through the rails. He smiled to himself as he remembered several questionable outfits but something made him pick up a brown pinstripe suit, a white shirt and a brown patterned tie. To finish off, he chose a pair of off-white Converse shoes and got dressed, staring at himself in the mirror. He felt quite pleased that however this look had surfaced, Rose seemed to like it.

Up in the Tyler flat, Christmas dinner was finally ready and they were busy carrying everything into the living room. They had laid an extra place for their unexpected guest and Mickey had gone off to get changed.

"We should've got a new tree Rose," Jackie declared as she started at the one in the corner.

"Mum, it's fine," Rose assured her as she placed some Christmas crackers by each place setting on the table. "What do ya want, one that spins around and plays Jingle Bells?"

"Don't be daft," Jackie replied as the doorbell went and Mickey walked in. "How many times do I have to tell ya about walkin' in?" she reminded him.

Mickey just huffed and went to sit at the table, Rose tapping his hand as he tried to take a piece of turkey already cut.

"We wait for The Doctor," she chastised him.

"Since when did he have to turn into a pretty boy?" Mickey complained. "That's it, you won't stay now, will you?"

She stood behind him and put her arms around him.

"I have to go Mickey," she told him. "You should see it out there."

Jackie had joined them so Rose had no choice but to start serving the food but she had just started when the door suddenly opened and everyone turned towards it.

"Did you miss me?" The Doctor grinned.

They tucked into their food as Rose piled everything onto his plate, since he looked like he'd lost a lot of weight. When they had finished, Rose picked up the Christmas cracker from in front of her and offered the other end to him. He won and offered the pink paper hat to her.

"Pink, aw, it should have been yours Mum," Rose laughed as she put it on.

Just then, the phone rang and Jackie got up.

"You lot, it's snowing, get your coats," she called over her shoulder.

Once downstairs, people were scooping up the little snow there was on the ground and throwing it at each other, Rose getting caught with some of it. The Doctor was watching her carefully, she would surely want to stay now and be normal.

Mickey was talking to Jackie about Rose going off again.

"I'm telling you Jackie, she won't stay now," he was saying.

"Yeah? I don't know Mickey, maybe now he's changed?" she wondered.

"Are you kidding?" Mickey asked her.

The Doctor was debating how to ask Rose if she was going with him or not.

"So, what now Doctor?" Rose broke the silence.

"Oh, you know, same old life," he grinned.

"On your own?" Rose wanted to know.

"Well, don't you want to come with me?" he asked her.

"Well, I thought 'cos you'd changed, ya wouldn't want me to?" she asked nervously.

"I'd love you to come," he assured her. "Only I thought because I'd changed, you wouldn't want to?"

"Then where are we going first?" she wanted to know, taking the hand he was offering her.

"Well I think you're both daft," Jackie told them.

"Ah but it's all out there Jackie," The Doctor told her. "I've not seen it with these eyes."

"Well, where are we going?" Rose asked him again.

Still holding her hand, he pointed to a group of stars.

"How about there?" he replied, glancing at her with a smile. "No, wait. How about there?" he decided, pointing in the other direction.

"Why not both?" Rose replied, touching his arm.

"Well, that depends – Rose Tyler. How long are you going to stay with me?"

The End!

Can't hide it much longer

2021-04-24T10:25:00.082-07:00

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Rose does some training with Jake and Mickey while she and Jackie get integrated into society and get used to living in a new world and Jamie Smith is indifferent when told he'd be having someone working with him.

On Rose's first day at work, she almost faints to see who looks like The Doctor sat at a desk covered in bits of alien 'tech' as he calls it and he looks up and tells her he'll have a coffee, thinking she's his new assistant.

She puts him right, saying who she is and thinks there's no way she's going to be able to put up with a cross between The Doctor and a smart-ass. She soon sees a difference between the two although this one still goes looking for trouble by dragging her to alien crash sites and digs.

Chapter 1

Rose was never so horrified as the force of 'The Void' was pulling on her towards it, The Doctor calling out for her to hang on.

"Rose! Just keep hold for a few more minutes," he called out again as she was only hanging on with one hand.

"Doctor, I can't," Rose admitted as it was taking all her strength.

"You have to," he replied, wishing he could trade places with her.

It seemed like his whole nine hundred plus years as a Timelord were flashing in front of his eyes and in all that time, he'd never met anyone like Rose Tyler, well maybe Sarah-Jane was a close tie as he'd been reminded when he'd met her again recently.

"Doctor, I'm sorry," Rose called out as she willed herself to hold on to the lever.

He heard a loud noise and knew she'd let go and he watched helplessly as she was pulled in slow motion towards the last of the gap. Maybe it would close before she got there, he hoped. At least the last of the Daleks and Cybermen had gone, which might trigger the gap to close but Rose would crash into the wall or at least drop to the floor.

Why had it been her side that Dalek had bumped into the lever? Then, he saw a flicker of hope as a dark shadow appeared from nowhere and formed briefly as Pete Tyler, who had given in to Rose's mother nagging him. Pete had agreed to go talk to Rose and persuade her to go back with him and he'd hoped the Cybermen and those Daleks had been dealt with.

Pete quickly took in his surroundings and held his arms out to catch Rose as the backdraught from the force of The Void began to subside but Pete quickly activated his device around his neck before Rose had the chance to argue. He couldn't face Jackie if he returned without her daughter, even though Rose had chosen to go back of her own free will.

He'd already gathered this Jackie Tyler wouldn't accept no for an answer. As Rose realised she'd been taken back to the other universe and her mother dashed towards her she couldn't believe it.

"Mum, why did ya send Pete to get me?" Rose wanted to know.

"Too late," Pete told her as his device went dead. "You can't get back now and you heard what The Doctor said," he reminded her.

"It's not fair," Rose said tearfully. "I want to go back."

She walked towards the wall, where she knew The Doctor was at the other side.

"Leave her Jackie," Pete told her. "You both have to get used to living in this world now."

"Had those things gone?" Jackie wanted to know.

"I never saw any of them but think of what went on there Jackie?" Pete replied. "You'd best both come with me, until we get sorted out. Mickey, bring Rose."

"Leave me alone," Rose insisted as Mickey tried to lead her away from the wall. "He's still there, I know he is."

"Come on Rose, we have to go," Mickey still insisted. "He's still trying to get this place sorted out, me and Jake have been helping."

Pete drove them all to his mansion, which he'd been about to sell but now he wasn't so sure about it.

"You're both welcome to stay as long as you like," Pete told Rose and Jackie. "Unless you want to risk staying with Mickey?" he then joked.

Jackie had visions of green slime on the kitchen walls the last time she'd been in Mickey's flat.

"I've got control of Torchwood," he carried on telling them. "I'm hiring experts to sort things out and salvage anything that was left behind."

"How could ya let the Cybermen escape to our world?" Rose wanted to know as reality finally hit her.

"Nothing to do with me," Pete replied, knowing she was still angry. "I was still trying to get my company back after Lumic's demise, remember? Blame the population, they wanted to know why the Cybermen were locked up when they'd once been Human."

"I know, I was at the factory when they walked in to be converted," Rose complained. "Will you get those devices working again?"

Pete couldn't blame her for asking.

"No, I don't think so, Torchwood's not fully back yet, there's a lot to do," Pete admitted. "Mickey will bring you up to date but there's a job for you, if you want it?"

"Why would I want to work there?" Rose replied. Then she realised she was being ungrateful for being saved from The Void. "Sorry."

"Forget it. Here we are then," Pete replied as he pressed the remote on the dashboard and some tall gates opened. "I got the house sorted out," he told Rose.

"Have ya been here before then?" Jackie asked her.

"It's a long story Mum," Rose told her.

"Well I suppose I'll have time to find out?" Jackie replied as she stared at the house they were approaching. "You lived here, on ya own Pete?"

"After I lost my wife," he replied sadly. "She was converted, by the Cybermen."

Pete stopped the car and Jackie put her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Pete," Jackie told him.

"Yeah. Well I have minimum staff, they'll make you both comfortable," Pete snapped out of it. "Are you staying tonight Mickey?"

"Yeah, I'll help Rose settle in," Mickey agreed. "Rose, you could have any job you want if you come and work at Torchwood."

"What about me?" Jackie asked as one of the male staff appeared from the house and helped her out of the car.

"Ah, Jackie," Pete thought about it. "Let's get you settled first?"

"Well I'm not gonna be the cleaner," Jackie replied as she looked up at the house, making Rose smile.

They were shown to some rooms and Pete then addressed the staff, who had been with him since he'd secured it from the Cybermen attack.

"My guests are to be extended every courtesy," Pete began to tell the half dozen or so staff. "I don't know how long they'll be here."

He then thought Rose would probably leave at the first chance she got after being here before. He still doubted she'd move in with Mickey though after being told they'd broken up after Rose had first met The Doctor. He'd already warned both Jake and Mickey not to say anything to Rose about the new head of alien artefacts he'd recently hired.

Although Doctor Jamie Smith resembled the Doctor Pete had encountered, he'd seen no reason why he shouldn't employ him. He'd no reason to think he'd ever see Rose or The Doctor again and the Cybermen when they had vanished three years ago, the only thing still to put right at Torchwood was the old abandoned lever room.

How would Rose react if she accepted a job?

"Pete, I'll think about the job but won't I need some sort of training?" Rose decided to ask.

"Mickey and Jake can sort that out," Pete replied. "Jackie, I wasn't suggesting you did the cleaning," he then laughed.

"I should hope not," Jackie complained. "Rose, what are we gonna do about the stuff we left behind? If I'd known I was gonna end up here, I'd rather have gone to Mars."

Pete looked at her.

"Mum, there's nothing on Mars," Rose reminded her. "If either of us knew what was gonna happen, we'd still have got caught up with the Cybermen fightin' everywhere. Pete's right, it's safer here but all the Cybermen went into the void. Don't know about the Daleks though. I'm gonna find a way back to The Doctor, can ya get those devices workin' again?" she asked Pete.

"It was just lucky they worked before," Pete told her. "I'm making no promises but I have someone checking for any signs there's a way through. It was just in case the devices didn't work and Mickey needed help."

"How did ya know all the Cybermen had got through?" Rose then wanted to know.

"There was no sign of them here," Pete began to tell her. "According to The Doctor, it had taken them three years to reach your world, that means we're three years ahead of your world, since it couldn't have taken them all three years. I reckon the first of them had some way of communicating with those left here."

"We started working for Pete when we got back from trying to rescue those who had been captured," Mickey explained. "It was a right mess, right Pete?"

"We'll talk more, meanwhile make yourselves at home," Pete told Rose and Jackie. "You can go shopping tomorrow but you might find things a bit strange, I'll get someone to take you."

Mickey took Rose by her arm and led her upstairs.

"Rose, you'll get used to it here," he tried to tell her.

"I don't wanna get used to it Micks, I wanna go back," Rose insisted.

"I know you loved him," Mickey admitted. "After he changed, so did you."

"That's not fair, I would have wanted to stay with him even if he'd not changed," Rose replied.

"You liked him then," Mickey reminded her. "He knew that Rose."

"Stop it, I'm tired and I don't even want to be here Mickey. He's back there, dealing with everything and he's on his own," Rose reminded him.

They were joined by Pete's housekeeper, who took Rose around a corner and opened a door.

"You'll be comfortable here, Miss Rose," Emily told her. "If you need anything, just ask, I'll have one of the maids find you something to wear."

"Not of Mrs Tyler's?" Rose hoped.

"Of course not Miss," Emily assured her. "We have a linen cupboard with nightwear, that was kept when Mrs Tyler invited people to stay. You know what happened to her?"

Rose nodded, looking at Mickey.

"Yeah, I was here that night, we tried to save her," Rose replied.

"Don't think about it Rose," Mickey insisted. "Pete told me most of it."

"If you leave your clothes, I'll have them cleaned for you by morning," Emily added.

"Thanks. What was your name?" Rose then asked.

"It's Emily, Miss," Rose was told.

Rose thought she would have freaked out if the woman had been called Flora.

"Dinner is at six," Emily then informed Rose.

"Thanks, I need some time to let it all sink in," Rose admitted, Emily looking at her.

"Rose, we need to talk," Mickey told her, leading her inside. "I don't think Pete will want the staff to know where you and your mother came from."

"Yeah, sorry," Rose realised he was right. "They know what happened to the other Jackie though."

"They'll have been told what they needed to know," Mickey replied. "You should go talk to your mother, at least you've been in similar situations," he reminded her. "Did ya tell her about this world?"

"Not much. Mickey, she'd have freaked out if I'd told her there was another Pete here," Rose had to smile.

"She did freak out when she saw him," Mickey laughed.

"So, what's been going on at Torchwood then?" Rose wanted to know. "Will someone try to get those devices working again?"

"Don't tell Pete I told ya but they may be on to something else," Mickey admitted. "I can't say much about it."

"Great, then I can get back," Rose replied. "I left a load of stuff in my room in the Tardis."

They talked for a while longer, Mickey trying to tell her the differences and who the president was, Rose not believing it was Harriet Jones. Then they went to find Jackie, who was trying to come to terms with where she was.

"Are ya gonna go work at this Torchwood then?" Jackie asked Rose.

"Mum, I don't know yet. I mean I might need some qualifications. What do you do there Mickey?"

"Security with Jake," Mickey replied proudly. "We sort out any trouble."

They went down to eat, Pete telling them he'd take care of them and get them set up if they wanted to leave but Jackie wasn't so sure she wanted to be out on her own just yet. As time went on, Rose was enrolled in a local collage to complete her education, Pete giving her a generous allowance and Jackie just did what she felt like doing but was spending more time in the evenings with Pete, who was careful where they went as he didn't want anyone thinking his Jackie had come back but then he had an idea, if Jackie agreed.

"Ya want me to what?" Jackie wanted to be sure she'd heard right one evening.

"Jackie, think about it? Things are still confused here after what the Cybermen did," he admitted. "Only the staff know apart from us. What do you think Rose?"

"Mum, think about it, you could be a reformed version of her. No offence Pete but the other one wasn't very nice, she was nasty to me."

"Yeah, sorry about that, she never treated any of the staff fairly," Pete had to admit.

"Well, that was the second time I was treated badly," Rose replied. "Never mind that now but Pete's right Mum, it would explain a lot of things. What about me though?"

"Well, no-one's seen much of you. You could be the daughter we gave up all that time ago," Pete suggested. "You could have found us that night you were here then in all the confusion, you decided against it and ran off. You could say we finally found you again?"

"Well if I have to have a cover story, so can you," Jackie decided.

So Pete went about sorting everything for them and he called a press conference to explain that he'd been keeping it all quiet until they had got used to the idea of being back together again and once they had, they'd decided to go public to avoid any speculation.

Slowly, Jackie began to settle down and decided it was time to play her part for real, which made Pete happy since things had not well between him and the other Jackie in the later years but then he wondered if things had ever been right from the start.

He now felt more at home with this Jackie and treating Rose like his long lost daughter made it even better, since he couldn't thank her enough for trying to save the other Jackie and helping to free those who were about to be turned into Cybermen.

Pete and Jackie had a private ceremony to renew their wedding vows and Rose was now officially their daughter. She'd done well at collage and was almost ready to join the team at Torchwood. It was now eighteen months Rose and Jackie had been in their new world and Jackie announced she was pregnant just as Rose swore The Doctor was trying to contact her.

She waited, thinking no-one would believe her at first then one weekend, Mickey was staying over and when she thought she'd heard The Doctor's voice calling her, she woke them all up and told them.

"Rose, you're certain?" Pete asked her after Mickey had.

"It's been happening a while," Rose admitted. "He told me to follow his voice."

"Well I'm coming as well," Jackie told them. "He owes us an explanation."

"Jaks, you were told to rest," Pete reminded her.

"Well I'll be resting in the car Pete," Jackie insisted.

"We'd best take my old jeep, if we don't know where we're going. Mickey, get dressed and help Rose and Jackie bring their stuff down, I'll get the jeep out of the garage. It'll be less conspicuous than either of the others."

They drove for hundreds of miles, across the water, Rose being pretty certain in her old world that such a journey by ferry was no longer in use then they finally ended up on a beach, Jackie trying to pronounce the name on the map.

"If ya ask me, that looks Norwegian for Dalek," Jackie pointed and laughed.

"Don't be daft Jackie," Pete insisted as he helped her out.

Rose was already at the water's edge, looking for any signs of The Doctor. She looked at her parents, thinking maybe she shouldn't have let her mother come with them. Then she turned back and a faint figure appeared in front of her.

"Ya look like a ghost," she told The Doctor.

"Hang on," he told her as he pointed his sonic screwdriver towards what Rose guessed was the Tardis control panel.

"Can't ya come through properly?" she asked him.

"Sorry, it's not possible, the two world's would collide," The Doctor grinned. "So, your mum and Pete are together?"

"Yeah, another little Tyler on the way," Rose smiled.

"You're not?" The Doctor acted surprised.

"No, you plum, it's mum. Anyway, this Torchwood's open for business and I'm about to join them."

"Good for you. In Pete's hands it will maybe do some good," The Doctor agreed. "I can't keep this projection much longer, there was so much I wanted to say to you."

"Yeah, so did I," Rose told him. "I'm gonna find my way back."

"If anyone can do it, it's you," he laughed.

He saw tears in her eyes and knew she was determined. He knew she needed some encouragement but time was running out.

"I'm in orbit around a nebula, I'm burning up a sun, just to say goodbye," he then told her. "It won't last much longer."

"Doctor. I…. I love you," she managed to get the words out.

"I suppose, since it's my last chance to say it," he began as he realised he wasn't going to be able to deny it any longer. "Rose Tyler. I…"

Time ran out just as he said 'love you' and he knew she'd not heard it. There had been a tiny gap, enough to talk to her but it must have taken a while for her to realise she wasn't imagining hearing his voice. It must also have taken them a considerable time to get to Norway. He'd hoped she'd seen the significance of seeing him at a place called Bad Wolf Bay.

Jackie had noticed Rose turn around and ran towards her, pulling her into a hug.

"He's gone Mum," Rose cried.

"I know sweetheart but maybe you'll meet someone who will take the pain away?" Jackie tried to console her.

The Doctor also had tears in his eyes at the thought Rose hadn't heard what he just tried to tell her. Why had he been an idiot and not told her when she was with him? He was just going around the console to get ready to take off again when he came face to face with a red-headed woman in a wedding dress who wanted to know where the hell she was.

As if losing Rose hadn't been enough.

Chapter 2

Rose started her first day at Torchwood going around with Jake. She'd fallen out with Mickey when they'd argued on the way back from Norway and despite Pete and Jake trying to mediate between them, nothing had worked so Mickey finally decided to leave.

He was just leaving Pete's office and Pete wished him good luck.

"Sorry it didn't work out. This place is big enough for you two to carry on avoiding each other," Pete suggested.

"I have to say no," Mickey replied. "I didn't mean for her to find who she'd be working with like that Pete."

"It's done now, it was just a bit of a shock," Pete tried to assure him. "She just took it out on you instead of us, what with Jackie almost due now. She would have found out when she got here, now Jake may find it easier?"

Rose and Jake were about to go to the tech lab when he stopped her.

"Are you sure ya wanna work here?" Jake asked her.

"Until I finish training," Rose replied. "I can handle it. Does he know?"

"Yeah, he's been told but not who ya are," Jake laughed as they arrived in the basement. "Pete thought it best not to let him know he'll be working with the boss's stepdaughter."

"Well he'd better not think I'm there to fetch and carry," Rose replied.

Jake went in first and called for Jamie Smith, who was just opening a new container for sorting that had been brought from the sub basement.

He picked up the first piece, shook it and threw it into an empty container.

"Rubbish," he said, looking disappointed. "Can't they do better than that?"

"Jamie," Jake called again. "Remember I said you were getting some help?"

"Ah, a new assistant?" he replied after he went to sit at his desk, which was covered in various articles. "Mine's coffee, no sugar."

"Excuse me, I'm not your assistant," Rose objected, making Jake laugh.

"Well what are you doing here then?" Jamie wanted to know. "Jake, I thought I had free reign down here?"

"Chill out Jamie, she's here to help ya sort this stuff out. There's things coming in all the time," Jake reminded him. "This is Rose. Say hello."

"Hmm, what does she know about alien artefacts?" Jamie asked, getting up and going to the coffee machine.

Rose went to pick something up.

"Well, what's this then?" she threw it to him, having recognised it as something she'd seen in Van Statten's museum. "Jake, where did this lot come from?"

"Hold on while I check," Jake replied, checking on his phone. "Some millionaire got caught hoarding all this stuff and we marched in and confiscated it," he grinned.

She took his arm and led him away.

"Jake, I know this stuff, it's from someone called Van Statten, right?" Jake nodded. "Jake, in my world, I went there, that's where I first saw a Dalek, he had one chained up."

"Rose, there we no Daleks, honest," Jake assured.

"Jake it was in a basement. Are agents still there? They have to check, I mean it. Tell Pete."

"Okay, I'll tell him. Geez Rose, you should tell him the rest, come on," Jake told her.

"Leaving so soon?" Jamie wondered. "Honestly, I don't mind having an assistant," he looked at Rose as he put something down.

"Jamie, don't touch any more of that stuff 'til I get back to you," Jake warned him.

"Why, what's wrong with it?" Jamie wanted to know.

"The source is questionable, that's all. Rose is an expert, she's had experience," was all Jake was willing to say.

"Oh, she's an alien expert?" Jamie laughed as he got up. "What do I do with this lot?"

"I'll send some men in to clear your desk, stay away from it," Jake reminded him. "Yes, Rose is an alien expert, thankfully, she knows where it's all come from."

"Then I thank you Rose," Jamie told her.

"That don't make up for ya thinking I was here to make drinks for ya," Rose turned on him.

Jamie put his hands up in defence.

"Come on Rose," Jake took her arm.

"Can I join you?" Jamie asked, thinking it would be interesting.

"Jake, he doesn't need to know," Rose insisted.

"Rose, he's been working on this stuff the last few days," Jake replied.

"Geez, I dread to think what else is in those containers," Rose shuddered. "Jake, ya have no idea. He collected one of everything, the only existing one of everything. He's a collector and he doesn't care where he gets things from. How did ya even overpower him?"

"Someone turned him in," Jake recalled. "He'd gone by the time we got there."

"Why didn't Pete tell me about it?" Rose wondered.

"Rose, ya were just gettin' over Norway and trying to get good grades at college," Jake reminded her.

"What happened in Norway?" Jamie wanted to know.

"It's private," Rose replied. "If ya wanna know about Van Statten's collection, I'll clear it with Pete."

They all went up to Pete's office, Pete surprised Rose hadn't freaked out at the sight of Jamie. Jake had called him on the way up that Rose knew where all the latest artefacts had come from.

"I didn't tell you because I had no idea you'd come across them before," Pete told her once they'd all settled down. "When we got there, the place was in chaos, staff were running in all directions trying to get out because the crazy collector's second in command was about to order the place to be set in concrete. Thankfully, it was stopped."

"Dad, we have to let Jamie in on my secret, so he knows I'm tellin' the truth. If ya don't agree, he has to leave now and everything has to be buried in a vault. There could be a lot of dangerous things," Rose explained.

"Calm down love," Pete told her. "We got word that Van Statten was becoming unhinged so we began investigating, he was nowhere to be seen. There were a lot of his collection in display cases, we were leaving them for now."

"Geez Dad, you know who nearly ended up in one of those," Rose sank back in her chair. "You're best burying it in concrete, trust me. Get some of the smaller stuff out but the large stuff?"

"Okay, take care of it Jake. Pass it on immediately that no-one is to go near any display cases. He tells me though that you're more worried about a certain enemy that might be there?" Pete asked her.

"Dad, if it is, the whole planet's in danger," Rose warned him.

"I've seen them, remember?" he reminded her.

"What are we talking about?" Jamie asked.

Pete went in his desk drawer and brought out a pad of forms.

"Rose's past is sealed, only a certain few know about it. Rose, do you want to tell him?" Pete wanted to make sure.

"Just what he needs to know," Rose insisted. "I just want that place and what's in it destroyed."

"We could use some of the things that were brought here," Jamie told her as he took the form.

"He didn't know what most of it was, he saw it and wanted it, he had to own it," Rose told him.

"You met him?" Jamie asked as he signed the form.

Rose looked over to Pete.

"Ya could say that," Rose admitted. "He almost wiped out the entire population for his amusement. No, it wasn't here," she turned to Jamie. "It was in a parallel world and he'd captured this creature called a Dalek, he was torturing it."

"You? You come from a parallel world?" Jamie sat down again. "You have no idea how long I have been trying to make people believe they exist."

"You never said anything," Pete reminded him.

"You would have thought I was crazy," Jamie admitted.

"It's what we do," Jake laughed. "Right now, we have to deal with that collection. Rose is right, it needs burying, I'll go supervise it. Want to come Rose?"

"No way Jake. I saw enough of it. You have guards on it?" she wanted to make sure.

"The same ones, they work for us now," Jake replied. "How about you Jamie?"

"Yeah, do I get to see any more?" Jamie asked.

"It's too dangerous. There's other stuff to go through besides that, I'll have some sent to you," Jake promised him.

"Then I'll stay here, if you'll join me and tell me more of where you come from, Rose?" he asked her.

"Jake, be careful," Rose warned him.

Jake went off and Rose followed Jamie down to his lab, why, she didn't know. He seemed a bit of a smart-ass to her but at least he believed where she came from.

"Well, well, well," Jamie grinned at her as he leaned on the elevator wall on the way back down. "Who would have guessed the Vitex heiress wasn't from around here?"

"You signed a confidentiality contract," Rose reminded him as she watched the floor indicator.

"So, what's with Norway then?" he still wanted to know.

"None of your business," she insisted as the lift slowed down.

"Touchy" he laughed as they got out. "Does that mean you won't tell me anything?"

"Hey, I hate to disappoint ya but there's not much to tell ya," Rose decided to put him right. "I came here because of those Cybermen, I didn't come here because I wanted to."

Jamie was not going to be satisfied with being told half the story. Pete had told Rose it was up to her how much she told him and now this world's version of Henry Van Statten may be on the loose.

"So you won't tell me about the Daleks either?" Jamie dared ask her as Rose sat opposite him.

"This is too much, I thought he'd gone," Rose admitted. "Van Statten I mean. If there's a Dalek in that place, every single living thing on this planet is in danger, if ya think the Cybermen were bad enough, think again. Daleks are completely crazy, they think only of themselves, that nothing but them should exist in the whole universe."

"Rose, I believe you," Jamie tried to assure her. "Maybe there isn't one though?"

"We can't be sure," Rose replied. "The whole of Torchwood may not be enough, unless the thing's chained up but if a time traveller touches it, it will be restored."

"Is that what happened on your world?" Jamie wanted to know.

Rose went quiet.

"Tell me Rose? I want to understand. I meant what I said, I used to wonder what it was like out there, what there was on other planets. Where did the Daleks come from? Who invented them and how did they come to Earth?"

"Whoa!" Rose told him. "Hold on. From what I know, they've never been here so I don't know how Van Statten got hold of one, if he did get one. As far as I know, a lot of things I've come across have never been here. This is crazy."

"You're not kidding," Jamie grinned. "So, will Jake just have that place buried?"

"Probably, it's the safest," Rose agreed. "That madman won't have known what he'd collected."

"So, what was that item earlier then?" Jamie grinned.

"You said I know nothing about alien artefacts," she reminded him.

"Oh come on Rose," he laughed.

"Oh, okay then. It was a musical instrument. You have to run your hands over it, very gently. It sounds beautiful."

"Really? Well no-one will ever hear it, lucky you," Jamie told her.

"Think what would happen if it was introduced to the public?" she asked him. "Who do we choose to give it to, so they can learn to play it?"

"You?" he suggested.

"Be serious," Rose warned him.

"Think about it? You would be world famous," he teased her.

"Stop it, smart-ass. What am I even doing here?' she questioned him.

"I thought you were going to come and work with me?" he grinned.

"Seriously?" Rose tried not to smile.

"You know you want to," he teased her. "There are other places other than that museum you know?"

"Yeah? Such as?" Rose tried not to sound like she was even remotely interested in going to find alien artefacts, especially with him.

"Could be fun?" he wondered what it would be like. "You might even know what some of it is? All this lot will be taken away then?"

"Nothing's to be touched," Rose confirmed. "We don't have a clue what that maniac collected. I only saw a few of the things the other one had."

"You could keep me out of trouble," Jamie suggested, waggling his eyebrows.

Rose did start laughing.

"Seriously? You got a girlfriend then?" she tried not to blush.

"Oh, why would you want to know?" he replied. "Not got enough boyfriends?"

"Do ya believe all that rubbish in the gossip columns?" she asked him.

"Mmm, should I? No, no girlfriend. She said I preferred artefacts to her so she went back to Paris. France – different planet," he laughed.

Rose knew that was something The Doctor had said one time. Why was Jamie reminding her so much of him? He got up and sat on the corner of the desk, holding his hand out.

"What do you say then? We'd make a good team, Rose Tyler."

"Do I have a choice?" Rose wondered. "I'll think about it. I'm gonna see all this stuff gets moved to a secure vault, it's dangerous. Wanna help?"

She called Jake's deputy and got half a dozen men down with trolleys to move all the artefacts on various tables and on the floor, one armed man on the door and one escorting the others. Jake had left word they were to follow Rose's instructions.

Jamie then sat back, his arms behind his head.

"Nearly lunchtime," he declared. "Care to join me?" he then grinned.

"You're so full of it, Jamie Smith," Rose laughed as he got up and offered his hand.

"Me?" he asked innocently. "I was trying to impress you. Is it working?"

"I'm not saying," she tried not to laugh, accepting his hand.

After lunch, Jamie looked on the internet for any signs of unusual activity.

"Ya should be looking on the Torchwood database," Rose decided to tell him, looking at her nails.

"I was never given access," Jamie admitted. "Then, they brought all that lot in. Do you know how long I worked on it and no-one knew about it?"

"Well, I've got full clearance, I'm senior management," Rose bragged.

"Well, you would be," Jamie replied, pulling a face. "I thought I was senior management. Seems not?"

"Ah, don't worry, that'll change if I come and work with ya," Rose then smiled.

"Was that the idea all along?" Jamie asked.

"I had to go through all kinds of training," Rose admitted. "Get one thing clear though, if I come and work with you, we'll be equals, neither of us will be boss. Got it?"

Jamie thought about it.

"Got it," he did a mock salute.

Rose thought at this rate, if he kept doing stuff like that, she'd start to call him 'Doctor' all the time, then he would start asking a load of questions. Then she did get a shock, like he could read her mind.

"Well, I don't really like being called Jamie. It's Doctor Jamie Smith actually, I prefer to be called just 'Doctor'", he declared.

"Geez, I can't call ya that, really I can't," Rose got up and crossed to the window.

He got up and stood behind her.

"Care to explain?" he dared ask. "Anything to do with Norway?"

"Stop it. I had this friend, everyone called him that and I lost him, when the Cybermen were leaving. I can't talk about it," Rose replied, thinking she'd said too much already.

"Was he made into one?" Jamie asked, wondering if he should pat her shoulder or put his arm around her.

"No. He was in the other world, with me. Pete and a team went there, he brought me and my mum here, The Doctor remained, to close the gap. I got stuck here. You have to swear you will never tell another living soul or I'll get Jake to wipe your mind."

He believed she would as well.

"You can trust me," Jamie grinned, using Pete's slogan. "So, what's Norway got to do with it?"

"Stop going on about Norway will ya?" Rose insisted. "If ya must know, there was a tiny gap left and he got a message to me. I told him I loved him but the gap closed before he could answer."

"Oh. Yeah, I can see that would be upsetting then?" Jamie agreed. "Well, you can still call me Jamie then," he grinned. "So, are you going to get me into the database?"

Rose got up and went to his computer, Jamie moving to one side while she typed in the password.

"I'll get the IT department to get you authorised," she promised. "Hey, you thought I was your assistant and I know more than you do. Ha!"

"Very amusing Rose," he replied. "Well, let's find our first project together?" he suggested as Rose moved.

Rose knew this was going to be a big mistake. A few weeks later, they had been on a couple of dates after work, Jamie had been introduced to Jackie, although Pete had told her about him looking like a certain Timelord just in case Rose couldn't cope with it. Jackie was quite pleased Rose seemed okay with it and he'd been invited to stay one weekend, arriving with Rose on the Friday night.

Jackie had given birth to a baby boy and a nanny had been employed to help her during the day, with Rose helping at night but now, Jackie had decided the nanny should live in, since Rose seemed to have got herself a boyfriend.

"Are you Rose's boyfriend now?" Jackie decided to ask.

"Mum, he's just a friend," Rose corrected her.

"Oh, well, that remains to be seen," Jamie grinned, looking across the table at Rose. "She may consider being my girlfriend, one day?"

"Yeah?" Rose questioned him. "I haven't said I would be yet though, have I?" she corrected him.

"What do I have to do?" Jamie then asked.

"Oi, you two, talk about it later," Jackie reminded them, making Pete smile as Jamie made a face.

"There's not much to discuss yet," Rose replied.

"I'm disappointed Rose," Jamie admitted. "We do have something to talk about then? Will you excuse us? Rose, where can we talk?"

"The conservatory," Rose suggested.

Jamie followed her, reaching for her hand. He was reminding Rose of The Doctor in so many ways but Jamie had a lot less patience, as she was discovering.

"Come on Rose, haven't I made it clear I want you to be my girlfriend?" he asked her once they reached the large conservatory, which was all lit up with tiny blue and white lights around the edges. "You like to come here a lot?" he noticed as she sat on one of the blue and white wicker chairs.

"Yeah, so I can look up at the stars and wonder exactly where my old world is out there. I expect all the stars are in different positions though," she replied.

"You still miss your old world then?" he guessed. "Rose, I thought you'd accepted being here?"

"I have, sort of. Doesn't mean I don't miss my home," she told him sadly.

He went to sit on the corner unit beside her and put his arm around her, prompting her to lean on him.

"I'm sorry Rose. Would it help, if I asked you properly?"

"Jamie, it's not a good idea, we work together," she reminded him.

"So? It could make it more fun. I mean when we eventually start going out looking for alien stuff?" he reminded her. "What do you think? Take your time, over the weekend eh? Let's go out tomorrow night, see a film or a show and maybe even stay out. See how we get on?"

"Separate rooms?" she managed to smile and nudge him.

"Now you're tormenting me," he laughed. "How do we get to know each other properly if we don't share? Tell you what. I promise to be on my best behaviour and if I'm not, you can either throw me out or I'll sleep on the chair? Can't say fairer than that."

"Well, okay then. I pick the show, you pay for the hotel and tickets and don't tell my mum we're sharing or it'll be a short date," Rose relented. "I'll get someone to drop us off if we find a hotel near the theatre, oh and somewhere to dine."

"Blimey, you're an expensive date, Rose Tyler," Jamie laughed. "Not that you're not worth it, you are. Mind you, I'll need to ask for a pay rise!"

Rose looked at him and tried not to laugh and patted his shoulder instead.

"You've been avoiding kissing me properly," he changed the subject.

"Have I?" she tried to deny it.

"You know you have. The moon is out, just those little twinkling lights. What's bothering you Rose?" he asked, touching her cheek gently.

"Nothing. It's just with us working together," she tried to bluff, knowing it wasn't just that and he'd want to know exactly what was holding her back.

The few dates they'd had, Jamie had thought had gone well but Rose had always shied away when he'd tried to kiss her, resulting in just short, sweet kisses. They had made him want more. Rose had loved The Doctor but the only kiss they'd shared was when she'd not even been herself so she didn't know why she was backing away from Jamie.

"Rose, we can still work together, can't we? Lots of couples work together, there's Rita and Steve in accounts who are always snogging in the cafeteria. Then there's Rick and James in IT, the ones who came to reset my computer. I saw the way they looked at each other," he grinned.

He slowly pulled her towards him, to see if she'd back away again but she didn't. Rose knew she'd have to trust someone at some point to feel the same as she did.

"Well?" he asked, stroking her hair back away from her face.

He kissed her cheek gently, then put his finger on her chin and got her to face him.

"Don't back away Rose, please," he whispered.

Chapter 3

Rose didn't back away and Jamie surprised her by taking things slowly.

"Let me see you to your room?" he suggested as Rose found it difficult to get to her feet after being kissed like that.

She vaguely remembered snogging The Doctor when Cassandra possessed her that time but that hadn't really been her in charge.

"Still a bit light-headed Rose?" Jamie teased her. "Oh, is it too early to go to your room? We could watch some TV or go for a walk around the grounds?"

"Dad doesn't like me going around when it's dark," Rose told him. "There are patrols going around the perimeter, after what happened with the Cybermen."

"So, you were here then?" Jamie asked. "That must have been very upsetting for you?"

"Yeah, I try not to think about it, thanks," Rose managed to smile. "Come on then, let's go find mum and dad and tell them we're going out tomorrow night. Mum will be overjoyed and ask ya a lot of questions, so be warned."

"Really?" Jamie sounded worried. Then he saw she was teasing him. "Really Rose. If you are trying to put me off, let me tell you, you are failing miserably."

"Aw, I was just having ya on," she giggled into his shoulder as he put his arm around her. "Are you up to being interrogated by my mother?"

"Try me," he replied, sneaking another kiss.

Jackie was waiting for Rose and who seemed like her new boyfriend to join them in the family room.

"Did ya do that on purpose Pete?" she asked him during an ad break. "I mean hire someone who looks like that alien?"

"Jackie, I wanted her to make her own mind up about him. She could have accepted him or gone to work in some other department. She did have a choice," he reminded her. "Besides, I had no reason to think she was ever coming back when I hired him did I? She took her time to decide about him anyway."

"Well so she should," Jackie told him as the door opened, hoping it wasn't about Tony, though how they'd shortened the poor baby's name so soon, she didn't know.

She still couldn't believe she'd become a mother again after so long.

"Oh, there you two are," she remarked as Jamie tagged along behind Rose, still holding her hand. "So, is it official then?"

They both sat on the small sofa, Rose curling her legs behind her, not leaving poor Jamie much room.

"I think that's a yes, Mrs Tyler," Jamie grinned. "With your approval of course? We plan on going out tomorrow night, my treat. See a show and have dinner, you know?"

"Oh and what about bringing her back?" Jackie wanted to know, forgetting all about the James Bond film she'd been watching for the twentieth time.

"Well, 'erm," Jamie stalled. "I thought maybe I'd treat her and we'd stay out? Save having to worry about getting back. I will return her after breakfast though. Rose invited me for Sunday lunch, didn't you sweetheart?" he grinned at Rose.

That was a surprise to Rose but she had to play along.

"Yeah, ya did invite him to stay the weekend Mum," she reminded Jackie.

"Well I thought maybe ya could look after Tony tomorrow?" Jackie objected.

"Leave them alone Jaks," Pete urged her. "Besides, they won't be going out until late afternoon, will you Rose?" he asked her. "They can babysit for a few hours if you want to go out shopping?"

"Okay, I suppose so?" Rose was forced to agree since she'd sprung it on her mother she was staying out overnight with Jamie and she'd not looked daggers at her yet. "Ya don't mind then Jamie?"

Jamie rather thought he'd been backed into a corner. They watched the remainder of the film then Jackie and Pete went off so Jamie tried his luck getting Rose where he wanted her for some more serious kissing.

"So, we'll choose a hotel near the theatre you choose in the morning then?" he suggested as he'd got Rose to unfasten some of his shirt buttons.

He then walked her to her room and they kissed goodnight. Rose was still a bit light-headed as she opened her door, gave him a smile then disappeared. Jamie thought maybe by tomorrow night, she would be more than willing to share with him providing they had a good time.

Rose sat on the edge of her bed, wondering what The Doctor would think of her agreeing to be Jamie's girlfriend but it had taken her some time to get over hearing his voice and just seeing his image when they'd arrived on that beach.

She had thought Pete was being insensitive by hiring Jamie and then seeing if she wanted to work with him or not but she had come to realise he was only trying to make up for her loss.

The next morning, Jamie had beaten her downstairs and was trying his best to feed an impatient Tony with his cereal.

"Aw, you were worried about lookin' after him later," Rose grinned, ruffling Tony's hair.

Jamie tried to look serious.

"There's nothing to it really," he tried to bluff. "So, you get your laptop out and choose somewhere to go tonight?"

"You're only just arranging it?" Jackie sounded confused.

"We only decided last night Mum," Rose told her. "Where are you off to this morning?"

"Just to the shopping mall. Pete's got work to catch up on. Jamie, you can manage to look after Tony if Rose comes with me?" Jackie turned to him.

He knew there was no escaping this if he wanted to make a good impression on Rose's mother.

"Yeah, no problemo," he grinned, flicking his hair back.

"Well I need a new dress for tonight," Rose then insisted.

"Oh, you two, be here after work on Monday," Jackie suddenly announced as she went to clean Tony's face. "I'm gonna arrange for Pete's PR team to announce that you're dating. They'll send a reporter and photographer to distribute to all the papers."

Jamie suddenly looked up from his own breakfast that had just been placed in front of him.

"What? You mean everyone will know about us? Blimey."

"We'll only have to do it once, then no-one will bother about us," Rose tried to tell him. "We won't have to sneak around or anything, the press know better than to go up against my stepfather."

"I suppose so then?" he had to agree, wondering what he was letting himself in for.

"Well we could leave it and have reporters following us everywhere?" Rose teased him.

"Very funny Rose. You'd best find us somewhere to go then?" Jamie suggested.

It didn't take long for Rose to decide what she wanted to go see at the theatre so she said she trusted Jamie to book dinner and a hotel so he thought he'd already gained her trust.

"Right, I'll be back as soon as I can then," Rose announced as she and her mother were about to leave and Jackie had picked Tony up. "We can get dropped off in town later."

"Don't spend up love will you?" Jamie teased her as he picked up Rose's laptop to follow Jackie to where she was taking Tony.

Why had he been roped in to look after a baby for the morning? Still, he supposed if he shouted one of the staff, they would find Pete Tyler for him and it would show he was taking an interest in Rose's family.

Once at the shopping mall, Rose arranged to meet her mother and went to try on dresses for a night out on the town. She also chose some suitable nightwear and hoped things wouldn't get too heated for a real first night together. She just hoped she was doing the right thing in agreeing so early in their new relationship. Once she had what she wanted, she found her mother sat in the café area.

"Are ya sure it's a good idea before ya go to the press?" Jackie wanted to know.

"Mum, hardly anyone knows me, remember?" Rose objected. "It's only since, well ya know?"

"Well once people start takin' an interest, ya'd better be ready," Rose was warned.

"It had better not scare Jamie off Mum," Rose replied, drinking her latte from a paper carton.

"He seems serious I suppose?" Jackie told her.

A driver picked them up outside, as arranged and they were soon back home again, Jamie having been relieved when Pete had gone to see how he was getting on. Jackie made a fuss over the boy when she got inside and Rose went to her room to pack, Jamie following her.

"Spent up love?" he grinned across at her as he leaned on the door, not daring to close it in case her mother was on the prowl.

"Not a chance," Rose joked back. "Are ya gettin' ready then?" she hinted at his attire.

"Oh? I suppose I should then?" he laughed, thankful he'd brought something in case she agreed to go out somewhere. "Everything's arranged, hope you like the hotel."

"It looked nice, I suppose it depends on the room they gave us?" Rose wondered. "I expect once everyone gets used to me being a Tyler, I'll only have to mention my name? I don't even know if I want that."

"Well if your mother gets her way, it seems she intends making a start," Jamie replied, hoping Jackie wasn't listening.

"She wanted to go public, a while back but I was doing my training and catching up with my education so there wasn't much point," Rose admitted. "Sorry she's draggin' you into it."

"Don't be sorry Rose," he told her, venturing into her room, thinking he was safe enough if the door was still open.

He leaned down as Rose went to him and they sneaked a kiss.

"Hey, get out of here before mum catches ya," Rose then laughed.

"I'm going," Jamie laughed back. "When we get back tomorrow, we tell her we're together and if she's putting us in the papers, she'd best get used to it," he insisted.

"You can tell her then," Rose dared him.

Jamie waggled his eyebrows, which always seemed to get him a smile from Rose.

Just after three, Jamie having been told they could book into the hotel near the theatre after four, he was waiting nervously downstairs for Rose to come down.

"You do know Rose has expensive tastes?" Pete laughed as Jamie was sat at the bottom of the stairs, an overnight bag beside him and wearing a jacket and trousers along with a fancy shirt.

"I think I'm about to find out Pete," Jamie replied nervously. "She said though she's not very well known yet, I hope it stays that way?"

"As long as we can Jamie but she'll soon start getting noticed if her mother gets her way," Pete smiled. "If you two are going to be serious, you and I need to have a talk."

"Oh? Should I be worried?" Jamie wondered where Rose had got to.

"No, it's not that bad," Pete replied. "Have a good night out then."

"Thanks, I hope she enjoys it, I'm still a bit nervous," Jamie admitted. "I am serious about her."

Rose finally came out of her room, having been wondering if she could share a room but maybe Jamie was right, they couldn't really find out how they felt if they avoided it. It was better to go out somewhere than go to his apartment.

When they got out of the car outside the hotel, Jamie checked them both in and they were shown to their room, which met with Rose's approval.

"So, we eat at six thirty, just in the dining room, thought it would save finding somewhere else, then it's a short walk to the theatre. Glad you chose a light romantic comedy over something serious like Shakespeare," Jamie told her.

"Wait until next time then," Rose warned him, seeing him pull a face.

Then he saw her smile at him as she hung her dress up in front of the mirrored wardrobe.

"Wow, is that your new dress?" he dared ask.

"Mmm, like it?" she teased him, glad she hadn't bought anything too daring for a first proper date.

"It looks very nice Rose. Oh, I have something for you. I had already made my mind up to ask you out properly tonight so, I got this for you."

He went in his overnight bag and brought out a small box wrapped in silver paper. Rose took it and opened it carefully and found a lovely delicate silver bracelet with a single heart on the clasp.

"It's lovely Jamie, thanks. Will you fasten it for me when I get changed?" she asked.

She sat in front of the window, since it was a bit early to get ready, she'd already had a shower, put some new underwear on to save doing it later so she just had to put her new dress on and put her hair up. Jamie was sat on the edge of the bed.

"Rose, come and sit with me?" he dared to suggest. "I just wanted to say that I'm happy you agreed to come out with me tonight."

"I'm glad ya asked. I mean the last few times we've been out have been nice enough though," she admitted.

"They have? Good, that's a relief," Jamie let out a sigh of relief. "I've not had a girlfriend for a while."

"Yeah, well. I sort of lost my boyfriend. I mean he's still around, somewhere. I don't talk about it. Sorry," she replied.

"Tell me when you're ready maybe? I'd like you to be able to trust me Rose," he asked as she got up and he held his arms out.

They kissed for a good while then talked about things they'd not yet told each other like what they liked and disliked, finding a lot they agreed on such as musical tastes.

"Ah, I must confess, I'm rather late to finding I like Beatles songs," Jamie laughed as he had his arm around Rose.

Rose had been glad they'd existed here as well as where she'd come from.

"Don't tell mum but she tried to turn me into a Cliff Richard fan," Rose giggled.

"Oh, I might have known," Jamie laughed some more.

"Yeah, we used to watch all his old movies every holiday," Rose admitted.

"Poor old you," Jamie tried to sound serious as Rose nudged him. "Why don't you go get changed eh?" he then suggested.

Rose was rather enjoying getting close. She took her dress into the bathroom and held it in front of her. It was a short-sleeved dark blue chiffon with gold trimmings and a black lining. She hoped it wasn't going to be too much once she had it on when the lining gave off a purple hue.

"Wow, look at you," Jamie looked at her. "You look amazing Rose. Here, let me put that bracelet on for you?"

They went to the dining room just before six thirty, telling the head waiter they were going out and Jamie put Rose's jacket on the back of her chair for her.

"Let's hope the service is fast," Jamie joked.

They were soon served and had plenty of time to walk to the theatre and find their seats.

"Looking forward to this love?" Jamie smiled as he took her hand, her jacket over his lap.

"Yeah, I wanted to see it a while ago," Rose admitted.

"What stopped you then?" he whispered into her ear, Rose trying not to shiver.

"I had no-one to go with – plum," she replied as the lights began to dim and people settled down.

Jamie just smiled to himself as Rose put her arm in his and the theatre curtain opened to reveal the first act of the play. Jamie had pre-booked drinks as well, thinking it may also impress his new girlfriend and when the play had finished, he delayed walking back to the hotel.

"We could go to a late-night wine bar?" he suggested as they stood outside the theatre.

Rose looked around and realised they were quite near one of the main squares.

"Can we go find a café? I'd love some hot chocolate," she insisted.

They found somewhere still open and sat with their hot drinks.

"Did you enjoy that then?" Jamie wanted to know.

"Yeah, it was good," Rose agreed. "So, want to do anything tomorrow?"

"Does it involve looking after your baby brother?" Jamie asked cautiously.

"Aw, not up to the challenge?" Rose teased him.

"Huh, I managed this morning," he objected.

"I'm just messin' with ya," Rose smiled. "Mum will be pleased ya managed."

"As long as she doesn't expect me to do it every Saturday morning?" he added.

"That depends if we decide to go shopping together again," Rose further teased him.

He saw her trying to hide her smile and let it go. They walked back to the hotel hand in hand and went to their room, Rose debating if she should retreat to the bathroom or not to get ready for bed.

"Rose, please don't hide," he asked her as he put his arms around her neck after taking the bracelet off for her.

"Sorry, I'm just a bit shy," Rose told him.

"You don't have to be. You could start by unfastening my shirt buttons," he suggested.

"Yeah, I can do that," Rose easily agreed.

Once his shirt was off, he went for the zip of her dress, thinking maybe she would tell him to stop but she didn't and once her dress was off, he admired her new lingerie set she'd bought as she slipped the nightdress over her head and led her to the bed.

"You can back out, if you still want to," he offered as he let her in first.

Rose just shook her head so he got in beside her, leaning with his arms behind his head as he let her make the first move. She did, by placing her hands on his chest and making circles. He moved one arm and put his behind her back, touching her skin that wasn't covered by the nightdress that was v-shaped at the back.

He then pushed her over onto her back and began kissing her neck and made his way slowly down where her skin was exposed. Then he decided to find out exactly how she would react to him moving the straps on her nightdress and when she didn't object, he pulled them down and began kissing her shoulders.

Just as nearby clocks were all chiming midnight, Rose whispered that she wanted more with him. She knew she'd been on her own far too long and she'd found someone who didn't seem like he was going anywhere. They could sort all the details out later, like working together as she felt him reaching for his shorts, then her underwear and suddenly, she thought she was going to melt.

Jamie could hear her making funny little noises and hoped they were a good sign. He thought she was responding to his moves anyway so he must be doing something right, unlike with that ungrateful French ex-girlfriend who had finally gone back home complaining he never treated her right. He didn't think he was going to have the same problem with Rose as she made more contented noises in his ear and thought they were sweet.

He allowed her to change places when she indicated she was getting over-excited and was starting to giggle.

"I get a giggle from you?" he teased her as she lay on top of him.

"Sorry, it was just too good," she replied, feeling happier than she had been for a long time.

"Well, I may let you off then," he replied as she began moving on him again, making him wanting to start again but didn't know if she was quite ready for him a second time.

He found she was, despite being on top of him and they both found it just as enjoyable when he'd given her enough hints.

"That was certainly unexpected," he had to admit when Rose rolled over to find her underwear, which was on the headboard – surprisingly.

They had left the bedside lamp on a very low setting, Jamie had wanted to be able to actually see where he had been kissing her.

"Rose, that was, well really incredible actually. What would you say to maybe staying over at my place at weekends?" he asked hopefully. "Do you need time to think about it?"

Chapter 4

Rose knew if she didn't take the plunge, so to speak, she never would get over being torn away from The Doctor but she could never admit to Jamie how much alike the two of them were. At least there was no Mickey to spill the beans.

"Well, you know my past?" Rose wanted to make sure he meant it. "You also know my mother's plans for putting us in the limelight. Does that put ya off?"

"It should," he replied, objecting to her putting her vest top on but Rose was not having this conversation with nothing on. "One thing though. When we first met, you kept staring at me, like I had two heads or something?"

Rose tried to make light of it despite her stomach doing somersaults.

"Geez Jamie, I thought ya were the most gorgeous bloke I'd met since I've been here," Rose managed to bluff.

"Really?" he beamed, flicking his hair and rolling his tongue around. "You did? I must have been a recluse too long, no-one ever said that to me before."

"Ya can't have got out much then," Rose teased him.

"Ah, you may have a point there but you solved that, didn't you, my fair Rose?" he grinned in the dim light. "Okay, I agree to your mother putting out some kind of statement but only because I don't want any men stealing you from under my nose."

"Aw, as if any of them could even tempt me," Rose smiled as she sat astride him and he held onto her hips. "She's only doing it in case we cause a stir wherever we go and I think now, she wants everyone to know more about me, to get me established."

"What as?" Jamie tried to pull her down. "My girlfriend?"

"Jamie, be serious." she told him. He shook his head. "As Pete's stepdaughter, he's still in charge of Vitex, in case ya forgot?"

"No but what has that got to do with you?" he wondered. "Everyone assumes you're the Vitex heiress."

"They tried to keep it quiet when I arrived here but rumours started going around, that's why I went off for training and all that, to give him time. I suspect he and my mum have come up with some kind of plan to introduce us as a couple at the same time."

"Rose, you've still lost me love," Jamie shook his head, wanting to go back to kissing her again.

"Vitex is where dad made all his money," she reminded him, making him stop. "When I arrived here, besides training, which I got paid for, I got a generous allowance and when Tony came along, he set up funds for us and my mum but she didn't want to be the main one and Tony's too young. So, I'm it – the heiress to his fortune and the company."

Jamie sat back on the pillow, not knowing what to say, which Rose thought made a change. Should she have told him? It was slightly better she did instead of her mother springing it on him at a press conference. She knew the day was coming but had hoped it would be a low-key occasion but not when Jackie Tyler was in charge of it.

"Rose, I don't know what to say," Jamie had to admit. "I mean it doesn't change how I feel about you and I did make a move on you before you told me. So the rumours are all true then?"

"Jamie, I'll try and stop her but if she's got Pete to agree to it while we've been out, that'll be it," Rose told him. "It doesn't change how I feel about you either. It just puts everything in perspective I suppose? I've tried not to think about it until now but once she mentioned the press conference, I had to warn ya what ya were gettin' into."

"Come here Rose," he suggested. "It won't change anything and we can keep out of the way of the press when it's been announced, can't we?"

"I hope so?" Rose agreed as she went to lie on him. "I hope dad can keep the press away once it's been announced, he carries a lot of influence."

"Yeah, let's hope so?" Jamie also agreed. "I hope we don't have to sneak out of here in the morning?"

Jackie had indeed been discussing things with Pete once Rose and Jamie had gone out.

"Jackie, back off for now," Pete was trying to persuade her. "Give them a chance eh?"

"Pete, the sooner the better," Jackie had disagreed. "It's better than some photographer learning who Rose really is and sneakin' photos of 'em snoggin' somewhere, or worse."

"Rose is sensible, she'll not get caught in public," Pete tried to convince his wife.

"It's not Rose I'm worried about," Jackie told him. "Ya know there's already rumours about her."

"Jamie seems to respect her," Pete tried to explain. "Well okay, we'll go ahead with what we planned when you and Rose arrived here. Still no telling him about who he looks like."

"As if I would," Jackie had seemed put out. "She'll tell him if she wants to."

"He was asking questions a while back when she mentioned Norway," Pete admitted.

Rose and Jamie fooled around the next morning then went down to breakfast.

"Want to go out later?" Jamie suggested as Rose looked miles away. "We could take your little brother to the zoo?"

"You enjoyed looking after him for my mum yesterday?" Rose teased him.

"We seemed to get on, he's maybe not so much of a baby after all?" Jamie replied.

"He's almost two Jamie, he comes out with all kinds of things," Rose smiled. "I missed a lot of him growing up while I was training."

"Poor you. I had no-one though," Jamie admitted to her. "Well, I suppose we go face your mother now?"

"If we say we'll take Tony out, it will please her," Rose smiled across the table at him.

"Well next weekend, you stay with me?" he reminded her. "My place overlooks the river."

"Show-off," Rose giggled as they got up.

"I was hoping it would impress you?" he tried not to look disappointed until she took his hand and squeezed it.

"I look forward to seeing it then," she agreed.

"I can see I'm going to have trouble with you, Rose Tyler," he replied as they went back to clear their room.

Rose had arranged for someone to pick them up at ten and were soon back at the mansion, where Jackie was having trouble with her young son.

"Want Jamie," the youngster was sat on the floor with his arms folded.

"Rose will be back with him soon," Pete tried to tell the youngster. "See what you did Jackie? Getting Jamie to stay with him?"

"Well if he's gonna spend time with Rose, he'd best get used to it," Jackie replied, trying to get Tony up.

"On their first proper date?" Pete asked. "Then you spring it on him about a press conference. If Rose comes back on her own, you're to blame."

"Well he didn't object," Jackie huffed.

"You never gave him chance," Pete replied as they heard Rose calling that she was back.

Pete was relieved Jamie was following her otherwise she'd want a new job from tomorrow.

"Jamie!" Tony shouted and shuffled around to get up, running to his new friend and grabbing Jamie's legs.

"Hey there sport, how are you doing?" Jamie greeted the boy. "How about me and your sister take you out later then?"

"Yeah!" Tony let go and jumped up and down, clapping his hands.

Then the boy ran to his blue pedal car and jumped in.

"Brum, brum," Tony made some sounds. "Go now Jamie?" he looked up.

"Hey, soon Tony, yeah?" Rose told him. "Want to go to the zoo and see the lions and tigers?"

"Elepants!" Tony laughed.

That made Jamie laugh and he stepped up to the toy car and started pushing Tony around the room, making the boy laugh and call out to go faster.

"What about lunch?" Jackie wanted to know.

"We can have it later or get something while we're out," Rose replied, hoping Jamie wouldn't get too dizzy that he wouldn't be able to drive his own car.

Rose went to get changed after Jamie escaped pushing Tony around, Jackie telling the boy to get ready to go out and they then set off, Jamie putting the stroller in the back of the car and Rose fastening her little brother in the car seat one of the staff had got from the storeroom.

Once at the zoo, Tony wanted to walk around for a while, holding Jamie's hand then being lifted on his shoulders to look at the penguins and sea lions then they stopped for a break.

"He's really enjoying this, thanks," Rose touched Jamie's arm as Tony sat happily in his stroller with a drink.

"He's a great kid," Jamie admitted. "I think we should make time to take him out, don't you?"

"Yeah," Rose agreed. "If mum doesn't put ya off tomorrow?"

"Don't worry love, she won't. Am I going to object being linked to you, eh?" he asked. "Rose, why don't you get a few things for tomorrow and stay with me tonight?" he dared to suggest.

"Really?" Rose was surprised. "Well, yeah, okay then, if ya sure?"

"I'm sure love. Rose, I want this with you," he whispered so no-one could hear.

Rose kissed his cheek then got up as she noticed Tony was falling asleep.

"So much for him seeing the elephants then!" Jamie laughed as Rose unhooked the back of the stroller to lay Tony back.

They walked around a while longer, hoping Tony would wake up, which he did in time to see a few more of the animals and they went back to a few he'd missed, then they went back to the car and took Tony back home. After getting something to eat, Rose admitted she was going to stay at Jamie's.

Jackie had to take her to one side though.

"I hope ya know what ya doin' Rose?"

"Yeah Mum. I like him a lot, you seem to like him," Rose replied.

"He's okay and he's good with Tony I suppose?" Jackie had to admit. "Let's see how he faces the press tomorrow night. Rose, ya do know that now, people will start to notice ya more?"

"I know and I've warned Jamie. He doesn't seem to mind Mum," Rose replied.

Jamie drove them just outside the other side of London, a bit nearer where Torchwood Tower was and Rose walked out onto the balcony of his apartment.

"Wow, my dad must pay ya too much," Rose joked as Jamie joined her, taking her hand.

"Ah, well you weren't here when he hired me," Jamie reminded her. "He stole me away from another employer. I told him I would be only too happy to work for the new Torchwood but I wanted certain things in return, which were my own department with free reign, a fancy apartment and a modest salary."

"So were you one of the first there?" Rose asked.

"Yeah, it was a bit of a mess. There was plenty to sort out, trust me but that stuff you had Jake dispose of could have been really interesting," he reminded her.

"Jamie, that man was dangerous, he was gathering the only one of everything in the universe and he wouldn't have stopped there. He could have got hold of Torchwood and got those devices working again. No-one would have been able to stop him."

"I get that Rose, really I do," Jamie tried to assure her. "We won't talk about it again, promise. There's a nice little pub not far away, we can walk down and sit outside for a while," he suggested.

When they got back, Jamie gave her the choice of getting changed in the bathroom or the bedroom.

"I think I'm over my shyness," Rose tried to assure him and herself.

"Then I'm glad to hear it," he told her as he put his arms around her. "Let's see how things go then maybe you can start staying over from next weekend?"

She wasn't really looking forward to her mother calling the press in but the PR team would have something for them to read out when questions were asked and only one reporter and cameraman would be allowed in, then the newspapers would get reports the following day.

She had been lucky so far but was her mother even aware that it could do more harm than good? Had she considered the social aspect like being expected to give interviews, be active on social media sites and appear on chat shows?

While she could get someone to update her social profiles every day, write responses to various subjects magazines would come up with, she wouldn't be able to pass someone off as herself on TV. Then Jamie would probably be expected to join her at parties she was invited to. So far, she'd only attended her mother's charity functions.

Unaware to Rose, a certain couple from the town of Sandbrook had attended one not so long ago. Tess Hardy had been elected to attend and she had dragged her husband along for support, to which he had protested that it wasn't his 'thing'. Tess had been asked at the last minute to accept a cheque from Jackie for the south west police widow's fund, a new charity Jackie had been asked to be the chairperson of and Jackie had a reputation of making sure it was well attended and a fair amount raised.

The following evening after work, Jamie pulled his car up outside the mansion, seeing a broadcast unit parked with thick cables leading inside and a satellite dish and a few people setting up lights.

"Miss Tyler," a woman shouted. "May we get a shot of you going inside?"

"On my own?" Rose asked, wondering if her mother had broken the news about Jamie yet.

"Why yes," the woman replied, wondering who was with Rose.

A cameraman came out of the van and began to follow Rose and Jamie to the front door and Rose was encouraged to give a wave as she went inside.

"So, it's started already?" Jamie turned to her.

"Well, they didn't know about you," Rose reminded him. "Ya can leave if ya want?"

"Rose, I've already told you," he replied, taking her hand again. "Your mother would be disappointed if I left now."

"Rose, come on," her mother called from one of the sitting rooms, Rose guessing poor Tony was with his nanny.

Once inside, there was a female reporter from a popular news channel and a cameraman, the reporter sat on the sofa going through her notes.

"Miss Tyler, nice to meet you. I'm Katie, may I call you Rose?"

She indicated for Rose to sit at the other end of the sofa so Jamie sat on the chair at the side.

"I have a set of questions for you, then you can give your statement. We'll be doing a special about you tomorrow at midday, my producer outside was very excited that you had decided to go public with your status," Rose was told.

"Have ya read my statement yet?" Rose wondered, since there was no signs of any PR team.

"We were going to let you do that," the woman beside her smiled, rather falsely Jamie thought.

"Well it's not just me," Rose informed her. "Mum, I thought ya had it arranged?"

"So did I," Jackie looked put out.

"Mrs Tyler, we were under the impression that Rose wanted to clarify that she indeed is the heir to the Vitex corporation and all that goes with it?" Jackie was asked. "It's been the subject of speculation for a number of years."

"Well yeah but that's not the main reason I called ya here," Jackie replied.

"Mum, if that's what she's here for, never mind," Rose tried to get out of the rest.

"Well, if there's more?" the reporter shuffled her notes. "Right, when you're ready."

Rose was asked a few trivial questions then was surprised at the next one.

"Hold on," Jackie interrupted Rose from answering. "This isn't what I agreed to. Jamie, can ya go find Pete?"

"Sure Jackie, I suggest this interview stops right now," Jamie replied as he got up.

"What's the problem?" the producer was asking over the two-way radio.

"Mrs Tyler says this isn't what she agreed to," Katie was saying as Rose got up to join her mother.

"What's going on Mum?" Rose wanted to know.

"I don't know Rose but your dad will insist that tape gets wiped or the station will be off the air for good," Jackie replied.

Jamie had found Pete and they went back to where Rose and Jackie were.

"I'm glad you came to get me Jamie," Pete was telling him. "What are they playing at? All Jackie wanted to do was put an end to the rumours about Rose and say you two were dating."

Rose couldn't hear what else was being said about them but she could guess.

"How did I know what they'd ask?" Jackie was saying.

"Come on Mum, I've been hiding away all this time," Rose almost laughed. "What else would I have been doing except blowing my inheritance?"

"Rose, they were told why they were here," Jackie reminded her. "That was uncalled for."

"I know Mum," Rose told her as Pete followed Jamie in, Jamie going to sit beside Rose on the sofa arm.

"Let me talk to your producer," Pete insisted to the reporter. "You know who I am. This interview is over, I want that recording wiped or I'll take legal action."

The media all finally left after Pete had gone outside to make sure all recordings had been wiped, Rose telling him how she'd been filmed on her way in.

"That should have been an indication I suppose?" Pete wondered.

"I had no idea Pete," Jamie assured him. "If I had, I would have stopped them. I thought it a little strange they never asked who I was."

"They were just using it as an excuse to fuel the rumours," Rose told them, leaning on Jamie, who put his arm around her. "Did ya get that statement back Dad?"

"Let them keep it, if they have any sense, they'll do what they were supposed to have done when they came here. I'll get the PR team ready to put out a statement that says that news channel were out of line and the interview will now go out to the papers. We'll pick another night," Pete told them.

"Sorry Jamie," Rose turned to him.

"It wasn't your fault Rose, forget it," he assured her. "It's okay Pete, get another news agency in if you want?"

A few nights later, Jamie returned with Rose to find the non-commercial news channel greeting them, not approaching as they arrived and being allowed to speak freely. It went on TV the following afternoon, Tess Hardy just happening to catch it.

"Just look at her," Tess was telling the woman next to her in the break room. "Just because her mother married into money."

"I heard they came from nowhere Tess," she was told,

"Well exactly. Who's that man with her?" Tess wanted to know, trying to get a better look.

"Hey Tess, he looks like your husband," one of the secretaries laughed.

"You are joking," Tess wasn't pleased. "We had to go to a charity function a while back, that man wasn't with Rose Tyler then."

"Sure you know where your Alec was last night," the first woman laughed.

"Shut up Elsie," Tess huffed, tired of being the subject of rumours she was on the verge of leaving Alec.

If he was going to ignore her all the time, why shouldn't she consider leaving him but she'd only gone to Dave because he'd offered to give her some advice. There was no other reason, she tried to convince herself and now, people were trying to convince her Alec was doing the same to get his revenge on her.

Alec was watching her as she returned to her desk. What was she getting up to when she kept disappearing by saying she was following a lead? Did he actually care, he wondered as he tried to get back to work. Were they only still together because of their daughter?

Chapter 5

Rose and Jamie's world was about to be set upside down as magazines and Sunday supplements lapped up the news that Rose had finally gone public that she was indeed heiress to Pete Tyler's empire he had made for himself, even though he now spent more time running Torchwood. He had got some good people in who he could trust to see to the day to day running of Vitex and it was going from strength to strength and several rivals were keen to buy.

Pete was having none of it, saying in a different interview that the future of Vitex was for his family. So Rose had been asked how she felt about the possibility of it being passed to her but she had declined to comment. She had met with Pete one night after work when the papers wouldn't leave it alone.

"I told ya Dad, I don't want it," Rose was insisting.

"Well none of my current rivals are getting it," Pete still insisted as he looked at Jackie.

"Don't let it just go Pete," she told him.

"The only thing I can do is hold off until I feel the time's right," Pete relented. "That's my final decision. Until then Rose, the news will soon die down about you being the Vitex heiress."

"I hope you're right," Rose had to agree. "I don't know what Jamie thinks about it, he's not said. He's just about got over us announcing we're dating."

"Well he'd best get used to it," Jackie told her.

"I'm staying at his place again this weekend," Rose then admitted.

"Well don't let any reporters catch ya sneakin' out," Jackie warned her.

"Well they don't know where he lives, do they Mum?" Rose asked her. "Well they'd better not anyway. I'll have to dash, he's picking me up in half an hour."

"Well call if ya gonna be late back," Jackie insisted.

As Rose left, Jackie questioned Pete about Rose's choice in boyfriends.

"Do ya think he's the right one for her Pete?" she wanted to know.

"Jackie, it's down to her, she has to decide," Pete reminded her. "I told you, I didn't hire him because of who he looked like, I never thought either of them would be back. Mickey never said anything to Jamie about who he looked like, there was never any need."

"Then how did ya explain Mickey going to stop the Cybermen?" Jackie wanted to know.

"Jamie had nothing to do with that. Mickey was just part of the advance team, as far as anyone else was concerned. Rose never went to Torchwood except for the time you both arrived. The lever room was just about the only place not cleared, there was no rush," Pete explained.

"Ya could have fooled me," Jackie laughed. "That and the underground garage were all we saw."

"There was no need," Pete told her. "Our priorities were to get up and running and to make sure the Cybermen didn't come back. I trusted The Doctor to take care of the other end but by leaving the lever room as it was, it meant nothing could get through from anywhere else. While Rose was away, we cleared it all out and made it into the cannon room by adapting the devices we used before."

"Well as long as she's happy I suppose?" Jackie replied. "Do ya think it'll make any difference to him, her being suddenly famous?"

Pete let out a laugh.

"Come on Jackie, it'll give him a chance to show off."

Jamie had taken Rose to a local wine bar and he was trying to get her to stay over at his place on Friday night as well.

"Come on Rose, then we can go somewhere on Saturday as well," he was trying to convince her. "Or if you want, we could maybe go somewhere for the weekend?"

"Jamie, slow down will ya?" she tried to tell him. "Okay, I'll stay over on Friday then but let's work up to going away for the weekend?"

"Fine. Why don't you think of somewhere then? You're always saying you enjoyed that Saturday night out the other weekend though. How about seeing another play, maybe Shakespeare? We could go to his home town, see it done properly?" he suggested.

"In a couple of weeks then?" Rose agreed as she sipped her wine and lemonade.

"Are you planning on going when your favourite actor's appearing there?" he teased her, making Rose blush. "Ah, I caught you out, Miss Tyler," he laughed as he nudged her. "Okay, have a think about it then?"

By the time the weekend came around, Friday morning, Rose was almost late for work as she decided if she was going to pack for an extra night as one of the maids knocked on her door to say Pete was waiting to set off for work.

"Miss Tyler, your father said you'll have to get to work yourself if you're not downstairs in five minutes," she told Rose.

"Will ya ask him to just hang on?" Rose called out as the maid was about to close the door. "Tell him I'm just coming."

She threw another dress and nightwear into the small case and grabbed the rest of her things then saw Pete pacing the hallway as she went down the stairs.

"Sorry Dad. I was deciding if I was gonna stay at Jamie's tonight as well."

"Are you?" Pete queried, as he headed for the door. "You'd best tell your mother, I'll wait in the car. She'll not be happy if you just call her later."

"I know Dad. Can ya take my case for me?" Rose asked.

"How exactly are you going to explain carrying it to your office or haven't you thought of that?" Pete raised his eyebrows.

"Can I keep it in your car and get it later?" Rose asked hopefully.

"I suppose so, just don't make a habit of it eh? Decide what you're going to do Rose," Pete agreed. "You can get Jamie to collect my car keys at lunchtime so he can put your case in his car."

"Thanks Dad. I'd best go face Mum then? I hope she had no plans for tomorrow?"

"I knew it," Jackie was about to object. "Is that gonna be every weekend? What about spending time with your brother?"

"I'll talk Jamie into coming over with me some Saturday mornings and maybe some Sunday lunchtimes," Rose suggested.

How he'd take that, she had no idea but he had to understand that her family were important to her. They didn't talk much about it during the day, Jamie agreeing to getting her case but when it was time to leave, people were nudging each other.

"What's wrong with you lot, not seen anyone leaving an' holding hands?" Rose turned on them.

"Leave it Rose," Jamie insisted.

"Well haven't they got anything better to do on a Friday night?" Rose replied as they waited for the lift after signing out.

"We don't usually leave together on a Friday," Jamie reminded her.

"They'd best get used to it then," Rose told him, loud enough for anyone passing to hear.

"I see you're taking all this admitting who you are and the fact we're dating seriously then," Jamie joked as he saw Jake.

"Rose!" Jake called out just as the lift arrived. "Don't go out the front way, there's loads of photographers out there."

"What?" Rose wanted to know as Jamie held the lift door open. "Can't ya get your men to clear them away?"

"They've already pushed them back but the press aren't on our property any more. Jamie, go around the back way," Jake suggested. "I thought ya gave interviews?"

"We did," Jamie told him, holding the door button and trying to get Rose into the lift. "What's your mother been saying now?"

"Hey, how do I know?" Rose huffed at him.

"What are you two up to?" Jake grinned. "Leaving together?"

"Stop it Jake," Rose told him as the lift door closed, even though someone else was waiting.

"Hey, I wanted the lift, the man objected. "Who do they think they are?"

Jake thought the man must be the only one who'd not read a newspaper recently.

"The boss's stepdaughter and her boyfriend?" Jake offered as he walked off.

Once at Jamie's car, he opened the grill with the remote he had and turned right instead of left, leading them to a side road, missing the press, who were getting impatient.

"I hate to think what they'll make up by Monday morning," Rose admitted.

"Hey, forget it Rose, I'll have to get used to it. There's something I want to talk to you about before I take you out. I thought we'd go to this nice quiet candlelit place I've been meaning to take you to," he smiled at her through the mirror.

"Sounds important then?" Rose replied.

"It's not that bad," he tried to assure her.

Up in Sandbrook, Alec was now staying at a small hotel after having a blazing row with Tess and walking out the previous Sunday night. He'd gone to get the police to pay for it, annoying Tess even more when she was called by the personnel officer dealing with it that she'd no longer get the full amount of her housing allowance.

On the same morning Rose was deciding to stay all weekend with Jamie, Tess was complaining to Dave about it when she got back to her desk.

"Well at least you don't have to argue with him," Dave was telling her.

He thought maybe that was what she'd been enjoying though.

"Stop it Dave, he did it on purpose, didn't he?" Tess snapped at him. "Why didn't they tell me before then?"

"Maybe he told them not to?" Dave smiled as he glanced over at Alec, who was sat in his office.

Alec had thought why should he bother telling Tess, she'd find out soon enough and she'd have to learn to cut down instead of wasting her money on things she and Daisy didn't need. He'd decided that if Daisy needed anything urgently, then he would provide for her but that was all. Daisy hadn't taken it very well when he'd told her he'd moved out but she was still just about talking to him.

He was about to go get his lunch when she called him and he rang her back.

"Dad, are you coming to see me over the weekend?" Daisy wanted to know.

"How about I take you out tomorrow morning?" he suggested, so he could avoid Tess. "Do you need anything for school?"

"I'll think about it, will you pick me up?" Daisy wanted to know.

"Sure. We can have some lunch as well. Daisy, you do know my leaving is not your fault? I thought it would avoid all those arguments with your mother, so you won't have to listen to them."

"Dad, she still goes on about you," Daisy admitted. "Can't you try and get on?"

"I'm sorry Daisy, she won't even stop arguing with me at work," he admitted as he saw Dave making himself at home on the corner of Tess's desk.

"I'm trying to understand Dad," Daisy told him. "Mum's not helping though. See you tomorrow then?"

Alec agreed then got up to get something to eat, hoping Tess wouldn't decide to go at the same time and drag that boring Dave Harris with her. That was all he needed. Dave had picked up a magazine from under a pile of papers on Tess's messier than normal desk.

"You don't believe all that about Pete Tyler admitting he has a stepdaughter do you Tess?" Dave laughed.

"I'm not interested Dave. Daisy made me get it, then I decided she was too young to read it all. Really, why do they make these things appealing to teenagers?" Tess objected. "Daisy says all her friends at school went crazy when they found out those silly rumours were true, the head teacher should put a ban on such nonsense inside the school grounds."

"Tess, you can't stop kids talking," Dave laughed. "Don't you think it will all die down eventually? I'm glad I only have a boy."

"Well I hope it does die down, goodness knows what will happen if Rose Tyler decides to get engaged then get married, teenage girls are so impressionable these days. It's okay for Alec, he doesn't have to deal with it now," she nodded towards him as Alec left his office.

Alec knew he'd been spotted, like a rabbit in car headlights he thought. Nothing much got past Tess these days. He decided to go tell her he'd be calling for Daisy the next morning.

"Well I wish she had discussed it with me first," Tess wasn't pleased. "Maybe you can come early, to discuss my housing allowance being cut?"

"You're on your own with that Tess," Alec warned her. "Sit down and work out where you can cut down eh?"

"Well really," Tess huffed as Alec walked off.

Dave tried not to laugh, well not too much anyway but failed and Tess indicated for him to go away.

By early Sunday evening, Rose was deciding if she should go home or stay another night and face everyone talking about them at work again.

"Rose, let's just get it out of the way?" Jamie suggested. "They'll soon stop."

"I hope you're right," Rose replied. "It's been nice though," she had to admit.

"I told you it would be. Relax Rose, it can only get better," Jamie assured her as they stood at the patio window. "Maybe next Sunday, we can take a boat down the river for a few hours, have a picnic?"

"Mmm, sounds good to me," Rose agreed as she put her head on his shoulder.

"Ah, that means you agree to staying all next weekend?" Jamie smiled.

"You knew I would," Rose knew he was just teasing her. "Are ya now gonna tell me what ya wanted to talk about?"

"Oh, we never had that discussion, did we love?" he realised.

"Ya were stalling," Rose reminded him.

"Maybe on Friday night you were in a good mood and I wanted to take advantage of it?" he further teased her. "Relax Rose, it was nothing serious, it was only about you staying over. I just thought that maybe you'd want to keep some of your things here? I mean so you don't have to pack on Monday morning and get your stuff back home?"

"Wow? Seriously? I was almost late for work on Friday morning, dad nearly went without me," she admitted.

"Well, there you are then," Jamie looked at her. "Rose, you know I'm already in love with you?"

"You are?" Rose sounded surprised. "I mean are you? Jamie, I think I'm falling in love with you as well."

"Well staying over at weekends will help you decide, won't it love?" he suggested. "How about next weekend, we go off and stay over Saturday night and spend the rest of the time here? Would that help?"

"Yeah, that sounds nice. We don't have to go see a play Jamie," Rose looked up and smiled at him.

"Ah but I promised you love. Besides, I can take you on that boat ride, just down the river Avon instead of this one, then have dinner and see any play you choose. Rose, I want to show you just how much I do love you."

"I don't know what to say Jamie," Rose was lost for words.

"Just say you'll agree to go with me," Jamie replied.

He held his arms out to her and then held her tightly, kissing the top of her head.

"I think I'd like that," Rose agreed as she looked into his brown eyes.

"Then I hope to convince you that nothing the papers come up with about you or us is going to make any difference to how I feel about you. Now, do you want to go out to eat or shall we make something?" he asked. "First though, how much do you like the view of the river from here?"

"Why are ya asking?" Rose giggled. "What are ya up to Jamie?"

"Ah, that would be telling," he teased, hoping to entice her into staying more than the weekend in the very near future.

He had fallen for her in a very big way and no-one could accuse him of going after her status and money, since that had been established after they had dated several times. The only thing that remained was Rose telling him more about the man she'd left behind in her old world. Maybe she didn't want to be reminded of him though, was it fair to make her if she had fallen in love with himself the way he had fallen for her?

As Jamie predicted, they were ignored on Monday morning as they signed in and collected their ID badges but Rose had a message to go see Pete upon her arrival.

"I'll see you when you've finished love," Jamie told her as he kissed her cheek by the lifts.

"He's probably got a message from my mum 'cos I didn't go home last night," Rose tried to laugh it off.

Jackie had complained that Rose hadn't gone home but Pete had told her to call Rose herself, he had something else to discuss with her.

"Ah, Rose. Get yourself a coffee eh?" Pete suggested. "Guess who I had a call from last night?"

Rose shrugged her shoulders. She'd had a good weekend but wasn't in the mood for guessing who'd called her stepfather. Pete could see she didn't want to answer.

"Okay then. Mickey called me. Seems he misses the excitement of being a Torchwood agent. What do you think about him coming back? We could put him in charge of that project again, step it up a bit?" Pete suggested.

"It's up to you Dad. I work with Jamie, it's up to you where you place Mickey," Rose told him.

"Are you ever going to forgive him for telling you about Jamie?" Pete asked her.

"He was never very tactful, ask mum," Rose replied. "Geez, the things he used to come out with when he used to tag along with me and The Doctor," she recalled. "Why all of a sudden?"

"He's been working on his own, sort of freelance but mainly for UNIT. A Colonel Mace asked me for a reference, I could hardly say no just because you and Mickey fell out," Pete admitted.

"Fine, just tell him to stay away from me and Jamie then," Rose gave in.

"I'll advise him. Are you afraid he'll still say something?" Pete asked her.

"Of course I am Dad, what do ya expect? I don't want Jamie to think I'm with him because of that. He may be okay with it but I'm not gonna risk it."

"I don't blame you really Rose," Pete agreed. "Jamie will find out you two used to know each other though."

"I know that but I've not seen Mickey for a long time, ya know that," Rose replied. "I don't have to be friends with him again, do I?"

"That would be a shame Rose. At least tell Jamie you knew each other back home eh?" Pete asked her. "I'll warn your mother shall I?"

"Yeah and tell both of 'em not to mention that Christmas or Jamie might leave me for good," Rose reminded him.

She went to join Jamie, who had started going through some notes from the week before.

"Ah Rose. I was just considering something. How do you fancy visiting some sightings of alien artefacts?"

"Really?" Rose handed him a drink from the coffee maker. "Hey, that would be great. Where are we talking?"

"Just around here for now but as more are found, maybe travelling around a bit? Won't that be exciting love?" he grinned.

"How soon would that be? I mean we were gonna try long weekends together," Rose reminded him.

"We'd come home for the weekend love," he replied, patting his legs for her to sit on them. "Well until we start going further away. By then, who knows? I might have talked you into moving in with me full time."

"Oh you will, will you?" Rose decided to tease him for a change.

"Oh, you mean you didn't know the weekends were going to lead to that eh?" Jamie went along with her. "Did I get the wrong message?"

Rose let a smile creep across her face.

"Ha! Gotcha there," she laughed. "Is that what ya intended then why didn't ya just say so?"

"I didn't want you to run away Rose," he admitted. "You were reluctant staying a few extra nights."

"Sorry, it's just all new to me," she replied. "It's all happened so fast."

"You noticed?" he laughed as Rose put her arm around his shoulder. "I'll pick you up later and we'll talk about it."

"Yeah okay. Dad wanted to tell me that someone's coming back. Remember Mickey?"

"Yeah, he left as you arrived. You knew him then?" Jamie asked her.

"Yeah. Jamie, he comes from the other universe, same as me and my mum. He helped defeat the Cybermen. He stayed here when me and The Doctor went back."

"Then I thought he would have been pleased you were here?" Jamie replied.

"He was, then we fell out. It's personal, sorry, I don't like to talk about it."

"Rose, you don't have to tell me, don't worry," Jamie assured her. "Forget about it. I'm sure you can avoid him?"

"I hope so, it's up to dad if he lets Mickey back or not," Rose told him.

"I'm sure Pete will bear it in mind if he takes Mickey back. Now, Miss Tyler, back to work eh?" Jamie smiled, going for a kiss. "I'll talk to him about us going where the artefacts are, instead of us waiting for them to come to us."

It went better than either of them thought when Pete agreed that Torchwood would fund any extra costs for them to attend where specially trained agents were working at uncovering items found with adapted metal detectors. So a few weeks later, after a weekend away as Jamie had promised, they were on their way to Devon as some unusual items had been uncovered.

Rose thought it was rather like being with The Doctor again but she couldn't say anything about it to Jamie. After their first week, they were about to make their way home again on the Friday afternoon. The agent in charge, called Simon had been warned by Jamie to stop watching Rose as she worked with a fine brush to get all the bits of soil off a strange object that was to be sent back to London. So now, he'd had enough as they stopped work.

"Oh come on Smith, everyone's staring at her," Jamie had been told. "Everyone knows who she is."

"That's still no reason," Jamie had objected. "And that's Doctor Smith to you, I'm in charge here now, ask the director. You'd do well to remember that."

"I was told you'd be working with us, that's all," Simon had reminded Jamie. "I was told nothing about you taking over."

"Well I suggest you call Mister Tyler then and if you don't like it, he'll send someone else on Monday," Jamie had told him. "Rose is my girlfriend so stop watching her Bailey,"

"She's with you?" Simon had then laughed. "I thought she worked for you?"

"What gave you that idea?" Jamie wanted to know.

"The way she runs after you? So that's why? Still, I suppose that's an advantage?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jamie had suddenly stood tall, Rose taking notice.

"Don't blame you Smith, having the little girlfriend fetching and carrying for you," Simon had laughed.

All of a sudden, Jamie had grabbed the other man by his shirt collar and Rose had grabbed another male agent and they'd run over to the two men.

"Jamie, what's going on?" Rose had asked him, Jamie still holding on. "Let go of him."

"Not until he apologizes," Jamie had replied.

"Me, apologize?" Simon had laughed. "Not a chance Smith. Now let me go or I'll call the director myself."

"Hold on, what are you two fighting over?" Rose tried again.

"Nothing Rose, I can handle this," Jamie still insisted, slackening his grip slightly as Simon tried to get him to let go.

"Well tell her," Simon mocked Jamie.

"Tell me what Jamie?" Rose had asked him. "If you two don't stop, I'll call my stepfather myself," she'd warned them both.

So Jamie backed off slightly, Simon straightening his shirt collar.

"This isn't over Bailey," Jamie warned the other man. "You had better change your attitude over the weekend or I'll have you removed. I'm in charge as long as I'm here, got it? Come on Rose."

"Geez, what was all that about Jamie?" Rose wanted to know.

"I didn't like his attitude," was all he'd wanted to admit.

How could he say it made him angry the way the other man had been looking at the way Rose was dressed and the way she was stood when she was working. It even drove him mad and he spent all night having sex with her and waking up with her tangled up in his long legs, a mouth full of her hair that always smelled of strawberries and the way she almost got him going as he was about to wake up if she didn't move first. If she wasn't fast enough when she felt him, they were almost late for work.

Sometimes he swore she did it on purpose and though he couldn't always see, he bet she had a wicked smile on her face because she'd be giggling into his shoulder as they both let the feeling wash over them.

Rose snapped him out of it as they entered the hotel.

"Forget it Jamie, we're going home, you can cool down over the weekend. What did ya pull him up like that for?"

"You really want to know?" he asked as they were halfway up the stairs. "I love you Rose, it drives me crazy if another man looks at you the way he was looking at you."

"Jamie, I love you too but I never saw him. No-one's gonna turn my head. There's only you," she tried to assure him. "You're so cute ya know, when ya look so moody and when ya shake ya hair. Then when ya fold ya arms and raise one of your eyebrows," she started to smile as they reached the landing and he did exactly what she was describing.

"You know me so well," he began to relax. "I'm sorry love. Want to go home or stay here tonight?"

"We'd best go home. If we see that man, I might have to bail ya out of a jail cell if ya beat him up," she tried to be serious as they entered their room.

"I might deserve to be locked up if anyone went near you," he leaned down to kiss her. "I love you Rose. Let's move on somewhere else? Maybe go abroad? What do you say?"

Rose was about to say as long as she wasn't travelling in a blue wooden box, she would go anywhere with him.

Chapter 6

Waiting until after spending their first Christmas together, Jamie certainly kept his word in dragging her around the country, then Europe and eventually the rest of the world. He had cleared it with Pete, getting himself and Rose fast-tracked into places it was difficult to get visas for, Pete himself contacting the embassies there and enabling Torchwood to join in local 'digs' as long as extra security was flown in for the pair of them.

They had taken a break the following Christmas for the holidays after spending the entire year away and gone home. Jamie had contacted Pete and got his permission to ask Rose to marry him but not to tell Jackie and wanted a special new year's party to be an engagement party. So Pete agreed to keep it quiet until Rose and Jamie had gone back to their place for a few days before the Christmas celebrations.

Jackie had clasped her hands over her mouth in surprise.

"Oh Pete! Why didn't ya tell me?" she cried at him, Tony looking up from playing with a puzzle Rose and Jamie had got him.

"Jamie wanted to surprise her Jaks, that's why," Pete replied. "Well, get onto the caterers then, you have a week or so, he'll make sure she doesn't find out."

"Find out what Dad?" Tony asked innocently.

"Never mind young man," Pete laughed as Tony seemed to know when Jamie was being talked about, let alone his sister. "It's a big surprise for Rose, we have to keep it secret. Can you do that?"

"Yeah Dad," Tony grinned back. "Does Jamie know?"

"Yes Tony, he knows," Jackie had to laugh. "It's going to make your sister really happy. Oh Pete, I thought she'd never be happy until she met Jamie, he was just what she needed."

"I know love. You may as well make a start but you're the caterer's best customer," Pete laughed.

"I'd better be," Jackie laughed back. "They'd better have a heated marquee as well. What about the invitations though?"

"Ah. I'll call Rose's secretary, she can get a rush job done on them and have the printers mail them direct and hopefully everyone will get them after Christmas and not before. We don't want Rose to find out," Pete replied.

"Well I hope they'll get them on time, I'll write a list and you find out who her friends are," Jackie suggested. "Then we can announce it in the papers."

"Do we have to Jackie?" Pete asked her.

"They'll have to get used to it. Maybe Jamie will stop draggin' her around all over the place now?" Jackie wondered.

"You know why she agreed," Pete reminded her.

"Well he doesn't know that, does he?" Jackie told him. "How no-one's ever mentioned it to him beats me."

"Because Mickey left and they went off when he came back, remember?" Pete asked her.

"Who's Mickey?" Tony wanted to know, since Mickey had made no attempt to be other than an employee when he'd gone back to work for Pete.

"Never mind," Jackie and Pete told the young boy at the same time.

Jackie knew Rose wouldn't want him on the guest list, whether she knew about the party or not. Would she want to go back to working in the same building as Mickey, Pete then wondered. At Rose and Jamie's apartment, which had been looked after while they'd been away, Rose was wrapping family Christmas presents, having just managed to post cards to her small circle of friends.

"I hope they get there in time," Rose mentioned to Jamie, who was catching up with the news.

"They only tell you to post them early so everyone's not rushing all at once," Jamie laughed. "Have you wrapped my presents yet?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Rose laughed back. "This one of Tony's is really a funny shape, he'll spend ages tryin' to guess what it is before he tears the paper off."

"Good, your dad will have time to charge the batteries," Jamie replied.

"Jamie, we should charge them before we go," Rose reminded him.

"I meant the spare ones Rose, the others will be flat in ten minutes," Jamie tried to be serious. "How did we manage before rechargeable batteries when we were kids?"

"We did without or we got toys that didn't take them," Rose replied, sticking the label on carefully and hoping it stayed on.

"Or got wind-up toys," Jamie added.

"You're showing your age again," Rose laughed at him.

"Come here and I'll show you how old I am," he replied.

Rose didn't doubt it. She loved him and wondered how serious he meant for them to get. They had been travelling around for quite a while and loving every minute of it but would Jamie want to give it all up and settle down at Torchwood again?

Maybe if an exciting project came along but they couldn't just invent one, could they? The cannon project had failed and had been shelved and Jamie might not have been interested anyway. He'd told her it was the prospect of discovering alien artefacts that had got him joining the organization.

Rose decided to take a break and went to sit beside him.

"I'm glad we came back for the holidays Jamie."

"So am I love, how could I have kept you away?" he replied, going to kiss her neck.

"Why do ya never talk about your family?" Rose wanted to know.

"Rose, you're my family now. I told you, we never got on, that's why they sent me away then to college and university. They thought by showing they were willing to pay for my education that was enough. They were not like Pete. Yes, he has money but he loves his family," Jamie told her.

"Sorry. I know ya don't like talking about it but do they even know what ya do now?" Rose asked him.

"Does it matter? Their solicitor knows how to reach me if the need arises, I passed your stepfather's details onto them rather than give yours, with his permission," Jamie replied. "Don't worry about it eh? Now, how about a lazy late afternoon snuggle or even more?"

Late on Christmas Eve afternoon, they made their way to Jackie and Pete's, Tony rushing to greet them while some of the staff unloaded the car and Jamie left the keys for them to put it out of the way before the evening guests arrived for the party.

"Jamie!" Tony called out excitedly. "You're back!"

"Hey, what about me?" Rose laughed as Jamie picked up the boy.

Tony held his arms out to her as well. Once inside, Rose went to get changed for the party and Jamie was grilled by Jackie as to the upcoming engagement.

"Sorry to spring it on you Jackie," Jamie was telling her.

"I should think so, you have no idea what a rush it's been, tryin' to get a marquee ordered for that day. The caterers had to pull a few strings, I'll tell ya," Jackie made sure he knew the trouble she'd had to go to. "Anyway, Rose's old secretary helped with the invitations, they've gone out, best hope everyone can cancel their arrangements and attend."

"I want it to be a real surprise for her Jackie," Jamie told her. "I think she's beginning to wonder if I'll ever get around to asking her."

"She won't," Jackie tried to assure him, not wanting to bring the subject up of the Doctor never doing anything. "What ya gonna do after the holidays? Are ya going away again?"

"We may but only until the wedding, well when we decide on a date. Maybe Rose will want to stay?" Jamie wondered. "Who am I to stop her, we had a good time while it lasted."

Jackie wondered just how much of her past Rose had told who was about to become her fiancé? The party lasted until the early hours of the following morning but Jamie was still up early as Tony came to find him to take him downstairs. When Rose emerged in the kitchen, the two of them were laughing about something and Pete was getting Jackie's breakfast.

"Rose, can I open that funny looking present?" Tony wanted to know. "Jamie said to wait for you."

"Let's wait for mum," Rose suggested as Pete drank his coffee.

"She could be a while," Pete admitted. "Why don't you help him with just your presents?" he suggested.

"Yeah!" Tony jumped onto Jamie. "Come on Jamie!"

"I'll catch up with ya," Rose told them both, getting some cereal, since the cook and her assistant were busy getting dinner ready.

"Hey, happy Christmas you two," Rose greeted the two surprised women. "Ya didn't have to volunteer to work today."

"It's no trouble Miss. Your stepfather's giving us time off when we’ve cleared up," Rose was told.

Rose knew only minimum staff were working and they were having the following day off. Jackie never overworked them except maybe the driver who kept taking her shopping.

While Jamie occupied Tony, Rose was wondering what Jamie had got her as a present. She was rather hoping he might give her a shiny diamond ring, she shouldn't get her hopes up though and shouldn't act disappointed if he didn't.

Pete went off with the breakfast tray so Rose hurried her breakfast and went to find Jamie and Tony, who was waiting for batteries being put in his new toy.

"This is great Jamie!" Tony was saying.

"Thank your sister as well," Jamie reminded the boy.

"Here Tony, this is just from me," Rose handed him another present.

The boy ripped the paper off, looked at it and gave Rose a hug. Then he went back to get the remote control for the off-road car they'd got for him.

"Show me Jamie," Tony was asking.

Rose went to sit on the stairs out of the way. Since Jamie had been introduced, when he was there Tony hardly had any time for her. She guessed she should be grateful Jamie was like a big brother to Tony when she'd had no-one when she'd grown up.

Pete and Jackie joined them at the tree and soon all the presents had been opened, Rose being given a diamond and sapphire bracelet by Jamie and guessed he wasn't ready to give her a ring yet. Jamie hoped she wasn't too disappointed since he intended asking a in a weeks' time to wear his ring.

Down in Sandbrook, things were not going so smoothly at the Hardy house. They were going to Tess's parents for Christmas dinner and as usual, Alec wasn't looking forward to meeting up with her relatives, even more so this year. They had tried to patch things together, Tess had promised not to see Dave out of work but they were still sleeping in separate rooms.

Alec didn't know how much longer things were going to hold together. It was a strain and they both knew it.

"Try to look interested Alec," Tess was telling him. "Who's driving home?"

"I expect that falls to me?" Alec replied as they waited for Daisy. "Daisy, get a move on," he called through the open living room door.

"That's not going to help." Tess reminded him.

"We need to talk after the holidays Tess. Things are not working out," Alec told her.

"It takes two to make it work Alec, I'm trying my best," Tess replied.

"You still work with Harris," Alec reminded her.

"I don't have any choice Alec," Tess told him. "The chief told us to put our differences aside at work, remember?"

He remembered all too well. Why had he ever agreed to give their marriage another chance when he was about to seek a divorce? Was it just the convenience?

"Daisy, you were told to be down here ten minutes ago," Tess reminded her. "Have you got everything?"

"Have you been playing on your phone again?" Alec asked her. "You should not be on those social media sites at your age, we never had them."

"That's because there was no internet back then," Daisy replied cheekily. "I was only finding out what Rose Tyler was doing for Christmas, if she's back home or staying in another country."

"Does it matter?" Alec asked as he held the door open. "What is it with teenagers and these celebrities?"

"Come on Alec, you must have had some interests when you were growing up, even in Scotland," Tess told him as they got in the car.

He mumbled something as he started the car then wondered when his daughter had taken a sudden interest in Rose Tyler. Had Tess even told Daisy she'd dragged him to a charity event the Vitex heiress had been attending? That had been the last time they'd been out, things had fallen apart even faster after that.

Then after going to see Daisy a few times, they'd sat down and he'd agreed to go back to help financially and since he didn't really like living in a small hotel room had taken the spare room. How was he going to break the news to Daisy that it wasn't going to last?

After Christmas dinner, Jamie asked Rose if she liked her main present from him.

"It's lovely Jamie," she told him.

"Were you expecting something else maybe?" he dared ask.

"What? No, 'course not," Rose denied. "What would I be expecting?"

"Well, I don't know? I'm surprised your mother hasn't been dropping any hints," he laughed.

"Take no notice if she does," Rose smiled. "I'm happy the way things are."

"Really? Then so am I love," he agreed for her benefit, hoping he could keep it quiet for another week. "Hey, why don't we go down to Brighton or somewhere for a few days until the new year?" he suggested, so Jackie could get on with the plans.

"What brought that on?" Rose laughed.

"Well we've travelling around all over the place, it'll be nice and quiet down there for a short break, maybe get a hotel on the seafront? We could look them up, go back home tomorrow night then set off. What do you think?"

"Yeah, sounds great, I'll need to go home and get my big coat," Rose agreed.

Rose went off to tell her mother while Jamie sought out Pete.

"Good thinking Jamie, things will be a lot easier with Rose out of the way," Pete agreed.

"I thought it would Pete, Jackie might give something away," Jamie told him.

"That's why I was keeping an eye on her last night," Pete told him. "So, are you going off again after the holidays?"

"It depends Pete, on how soon Rose wants the wedding to be. We've had a good time going around, maybe she'll want to come back?" Jamie wondered.

"Ah, about that? Mickey sort of took over in your old department for now," Pete had to admit. "I'll need to know as soon as you can so I can move him. I told him it may not be permanent."

"What happened between Rose and him anyway?" Jamie wanted to know. "I thought they came from the other world together?"

"Well no, Mickey came here first then went back to help over the Cybermen," Pete reminded him. "Well you know how Rose and Jackie ended up here, then we went up to Norway so she could say goodbye to her friend?"

"Yeah but she never talks about it," Jamie replied. "I don't push her on it."

"Good, she was heart-broken over it. Well she and Mickey got into some sort of argument on the way back, lord knows how it started and when we got back, Mickey quit and went off."

"Well, I suppose that explains a few things? I wonder if Mickey was still a bit jealous over this friend she left behind?"

"Probably. When the Cybermen got loose here, Mickey was one of the first to go with the advance party to try to warn the other Torchwood. They failed though because the head was unapproachable," Pete told him. "All they could do was keep an eye out for Rose and the Doctor and help them as much as they could without giving themselves away until it was safe to do so."

"Then something went wrong when those other creatures arrived there?" Jamie asked. "So Rose and Jackie may have stayed there?"

"Maybe? We would have still made sure the Cybermen left though," Pete assured him. "I may have charmed Jackie into coming back with me," he smiled. "As for Rose, she would have stayed."

"Yeah, I expect she would have done?" Jamie didn't look happy about it.

Rose was telling her mother they were going off again.

"You've really got the travelling bug again Rose," Jackie told her.

"I thought it was sweet of him," Rose replied as she twisted the bracelet on her wrist.

"When are you two gonna settle down?" Jackie wanted to know without giving anything away.

"I thought maybe soon Mum but all he gave me was this bracelet," Rose sounded disappointed.

"Rose, he loves ya, don't give up yet. Maybe he's waitin' for Valentine's day?" Jackie suggested, trying not to say it could be a lot sooner than that.

"Mum, maybe it's why he suggested we go away?" Rose suddenly thought.

Jackie hadn't thought of that and she bet Jamie hadn't either. Maybe she should suggest Jamie proposed to Rose in Brighton and come back on New Year's Eve to the party?

"I'd best go see what Jake and Tony are up to," Jackie suddenly got up. "It's a wonder Tony didn't want Jamie to play with his train set with him."

"No Mum, he likes Jamie to chase him around," Rose laughed.

Jamie just happened to be on his way to find Rose when he bumped into Jackie.

"Here Jamie, quick," Jackie pulled him into the now empty kitchen. "I hope ya already got Rose a ring?"

"Yes Jackie, I've got her a ring," Jamie looked surprised.

"Good. Then when ya take her to Brighton, take her out to the end of the pier and ask her to marry ya there," Jackie suggested.

"That's funny, Pete just said that," Jamie laughed. "That's exactly what I'll do then, the night before we come back. Then back home, grab a change of clothes and back here for the engagement party. Perfect!"

"I'm glad ya agree 'cos Rose seemed a bit upset ya only gave her a diamond bracelet for Christmas so don't let her down," Jackie warned him.

Jamie did a mock salute.

"Best go find her then? She said Tony likes to play games later on."

"Don't let him play Twister with ya," Jackie gave him another warning.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Jamie laughed.

He went to join Rose, who smiled when he sat beside her and took her hand.

"Okay love?" he asked her.

"Yeah, it's the best Christmas I've had for a long time 'cos you're here," she told him, leaning on his shoulder.

Two days later, they were looking out of their nice warm hotel room overlooking the pier that had just lit up in the late afternoon. Jamie had been lucky to find the hotel at short notice and was glad he'd looked on a late booking website.

"Let's go for a walk after dinner," he suggested as he kissed her cheek.

"I hope the rides will be open tomorrow," Rose smiled.

"Don't see why not, I bet there are plenty of people here," Jamie agreed.

Now, he wasn't sure if he wanted to wait a few more nights since Jackie had told him how disappointed Rose had been. If he did it tonight, they could enjoy the next few days even better being engaged and he could still keep the party quiet.

He was feeling a bit nervous now the time had actually arrived. They'd gone shopping separately and he'd gone to buy the ring and didn't want to wait too long to give it to her. So after dinner, he went to get their coats and they crossed the road and went through the small gate that was still open since there were plenty of people still around.

He wanted somewhere quiet though but didn't think it a good idea to go too far. So he found a spot under some lights and turned to face the way they'd just walked.

"Rose, remember what you said to me on Christmas Day?" he asked her, taking the glove off her left hand and rubbing it. "I know you meant it but maybe I should have done something special to make it even better?"

"Jamie, it was great, honestly," Rose tried to assure him.

"Rose, I saw the look on your face when you opened that box with the bracelet inside. You would have preferred something else with a diamond in it?"

"Jamie," she started to say until he put his finger over her lips and hushed her then moving his finger kissed her gently whilst fingering the small box in his coat pocket.

"Let me make up for it love?"

He kept hold of her left hand to stop it getting cold and brought out the box, Rose letting go of him to put her hands over her mouth. Since it was already frosty, he very carefully bent one leg instead of kneeling and opened the box.

"Will you marry me, Rose Tyler?"

Chapter 7

Enjoying the rest of their break, Rose decided it would be best telling her mother when they got back, Jamie agreeing since he'd admitted people were already expecting an engagement party.

"You sneak," Rose laughed when he told her.

"Well I had to give your mother some warning," Jamie laughed. "Tony's going to be excited now I'll be his real brother!"

"Yeah, bless him, he'll tell everyone at school, we won't need to announce it in the papers," Rose agreed.

"Ah. About that?" Jamie asked nervously. "Do we have to?"

"You know what my mum's like?" Rose reminded him. "We'll just put out a press release this time then, take a couple of photos showing off my ring and say we've not settled on a date yet," she suggested.

"Well I was hoping it wasn't going to be too long," Jamie admitted. "How about April or May? Well June at the latest?"

"Well? Yeah, okay then. Tony can be pageboy, we'll have the wedding in a large marquee in the grounds but what about bridesmaids?" Rose wondered.

"I will leave that to you," Jamie replied as he was more interested in turning the lamp out and just getting under the covers with her with only the light coming from outside.

He was hoping now they were actually engaged, she would finally give in to him, not that he didn't enjoy getting as close as she would allow but he tried not to be too disappointed when it all ended before he wanted. She had claimed he just got her too excited that she couldn't bear any more and he had to believe her. It wasn't as though she didn't take precautions, he knew she did.

They left Brighton and Tony was asking when they were coming back.

"They'll be here soon," Jackie was trying to tell him. "They might have a surprise for ya as well."

"A new boat?" Tony asked hopefully.

"What do you want the most?" Pete asked him.

"For Jamie to be my real brother?" Tony then asked, a big grin on his face. "He will?"

The boy began running around the room, first to his mother, then to the window looking for Jamie's car.

"Wait 'til I tell my friends I'm gonna have a real big brother!" he told Jackie and Pete excitedly.

"You'd better get them to do a press release before he goes back to nursery school Pete," Jackie warned him.

Pete had already thought about that, after the fiasco last time. He called the media department at Torchwood and got them to arrange something and told them he'd get them both to write a statement and hand it in with some photos after the holidays.

The day before the party, Rose was hunting for a new dress, her mother tagging along while Jamie watched Tony.

"Really Mum, I don't know what I'm gonna do about any bridesmaids, all my friends are older," Rose complained as she browsed the rails in her favourite dress shop.

"Well what do other famous people do?" her mother asked, making sure everyone could hear.

Rose hated it when her mother showed her off.

"Use that social media thing for some ideas?" Jackie then suggested. "Ya know, that twitted thing."

"Mum, stop it," Rose warned Jackie as everyone looked at them. "Ya know that's not me."

Rose had given in and got a social secretary to deal with things like that, such as answering mail and passing anything on that needed her attention. The young woman was quite up on modern ways of communication and Rose had been impressed when she'd explained what she wanted.

Things such as answers to simple questions on the two main sites were dealt with but it was made plain on the accounts that it was not Rose herself and that it was run on her behalf. She didn't want anyone misquoting her.

"Well, ya'd better think of something when ya decide on a date. I hope ya gonna announce it tomorrow night?" Jackie asked her.

"I'm not sure yet Mum," Rose admitted as she held up two dresses and went off to the changing room, Jackie following her.

When they got back, Rose took Jamie up to their room.

"Mum expects us to announce a date at the party," she warned him.

"I did say she would," Jamie laughed. "Why don't we just pick a month?"

"Well it might satisfy her for now?" Rose wondered. "No, you're not seeing me in my new dress or my new lingerie, forget it loverboy," she teased him.

"You are such a tease, Rose Tyler," he laughed, going for a kiss. "Let me see if I can entice you?"

She supposed she couldn't blame him for trying as he pushed her onto the bed. The following day, Tony was getting in the way of preparing for the party so Rose and Jamie decided to take him to the park to let him run around for a while. Jamie was pushing the boy on the swings, Rose leaning on one of the posts.

She knew the way he'd taken to Tony meant he was keen for them to have kids of their own but there was that one final hurdle to get over. Could she ever tell him she'd been abused back in her old world by that Jimmy Stone? Jimmy had hurt her but she'd never done anything about it despite her mother marching her into the nearest police station.

She had never forgotten it but he'd been drunk at the time, she'd tried to fight him off and she didn't know because she was so young what had actually happened. She had escaped, gathering what she could when he'd passed out and had gone banging on her mother's door at almost midnight.

She shook the thoughts from her mind as Jamie was teasing Tony about how high he wanted to go.

"Tony, ya know what mum said," Rose called over to him as the boy leaned over to stare at the ground.

"He's just excited Rose," Jamie told her as Rose tried to catch the swing. "He'll be fine. Come on Tony, roundabout next."

They got back and handed Tony over to his nanny, who had just arrived to take charge of him for the rest of the day and during the party. Rose knew her mother liked to take her time getting ready for a party. Maybe no-one noticed the difference between her and the other Jackie in that department.

"So, don't forget, we say May," Jamie reminded her before Rose went to get ready. "Want some help love?" he waggled his eyebrows.

"Ha, you wish!" Rose had to laugh. "Give me an hour to have a soak in the bubble bath."

"As long as you don't get out first eh?" he replied.

He went off to find Pete, who was in his study.

"Pete, can I ask something?" Jamie wanted to know as Pete turned the screen off. "What happened here that night? Rose was staring into space while we were out. I can only think something had reminded her of that night."

"I wouldn't worry Jamie, Jackie still remembers the other side of it," Pete told him. "I doubt it'll ever go away fully. Have you two started working on that press statement yet?"

Jamie just gave him a grin so Pete assumed not.

"I'd get on with it before Jackie gets the press in again," Pete laughed.

"Rose is worried that she's got no bridesmaids," Jamie admitted. "Maybe she should run a competition or something? Maybe those who follow her on social media?"

"Wouldn't that rule a lot of the younger ones out?" Pete wondered.

"She should run a competition in a girl's magazine or something," Jamie then joked.

"I'd be careful if I were you," Pete also laughed.

"It's not a bad idea though," Jamie tried to be serious.

Rose had got out of the bath and was just getting dressed when Jamie joined her. He'd been delayed by Jackie.

"Ah, Jackie. I was just saying to Pete about bridesmaids for the wedding," he told her.

One thing Jackie wasn't sure about this particular likeness of the Doctor was that Jamie wasn't afraid of her. He spoke his mind and hadn't run a mile after getting over the initial shock of announcing to the press that he and Rose were dating. She had put his reluctance down to the fact that he'd wanted Rose to himself and not for their relationship to be public knowledge.

"Well, what about it?" Jackie wanted to know, since she was about to check on Tony before getting ready for the party.

"I thought you might be able to talk Rose into agreeing for some magazine or website to run a contest, to pick some girls from different age groups. She has quite a following by all accounts," Jamie grinned at his almost mother-in-law.

That was another thing Jackie was going to have to face. A version of the Timelord as her son-in-law and none of them could really talk about it in full. What Jamie would make of it was anyone's guess. Pete was satisfied he knew enough of Rose's past that everyone was comfortable with but Rose had nearly given the game away after revealing too much when she'd first met Jamie.

Luckily, Pete and Jake had caught on and been able to cover it up but it had been a close call and it had led to Rose taking up with Jamie.

"Have ya said anything to Rose?" Jackie wondered.

"No, not yet," Jamie replied, sure that's what he'd already said. "We thought it would be better coming from you. What do you think?"

"It might be better in a magazine?" Jackie thought. "Not all kids are allowed on the internet and quite right if ya ask me. She could talk to her secretary about it, after the holidays," she suggested.

"Great, I'll leave it with you then?" Jamie seemed pleased with himself. "Best go make myself presentable for tonight then?"

Jackie thought that meant spending an hour in front of a mirror getting his hair to stand up how he wanted it. They were all going to have a light meal before everyone arrived, since there was only going to be party food being served to the guests. Jamie was then arranging with Pete when would be the best time to make the announcement.

"After everyone's arrived I suppose?" Pete thought the most likely time as Rose and Jackie went off to greet early guests.

Up in Sandbrook, Alec had just about survived Christmas but hadn't been happy about being dragged to a party of a friend of Tess's for the new year.

"Come on Alec, one more party is not going to kill you," Tess had argued during the day as he waited to take Daisy to Tess's mother's.

"Tess, this is the last time," Alec warned her while he waited.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tess wanted to know. "I thought we may try and make up in the new year?"

"That was your suggestion," Alec reminded her. "It depends on a few things, such as how much time you spend with Dave at work."

"You know I've cut down, mainly because he doesn't want much to do with me now," Tess admitted. "See, if I try, then you can."

"I wasn't the guilty one, was I?" he replied as he heard Daisy's room door closing.

"Sometimes there's no pleasing you Alec," Tess told him. "I can't try any harder Alec, it's down to you now. We could make a clean break in the new year, you have to want to try as well though."

"Seriously, are you two arguing again?" Daisy complained as she came downstairs with her arms folded.

"Have you been on that phone again?" Alec wanted to know.

"Why do you care?" Daisy asked cheekily. "I bet wherever Rose Tyler was, she had a better time than I did."

"Stop going on about her," Tess warned the teenager. "Whoever writes on her social pages, puts what they want."

"Stop spoiling it Mum," Daisy huffed. "I know it's not her but they keep in contact with her."

Alec just shook his head in despair. Teenagers such as his daughter were so impressionable where the likes of reality stars were concerned. Why had the Vitex heiress become popular all of a sudden just because she'd chosen to admit she was dating? It surely had to be her mother behind it, if Daisy were concerned, it would be Tess.

The engagement party was a complete success, all the women admiring Rose's ring and the men patting Jamie on the back and telling him he was a very lucky man.

"I already know that," Jamie admitted to someone Pete knew as they refilled their drinks and Rose had a circle around her. "We went travelling a while back, keeping men away wasn't easy."

"I bet it wasn't," the other man agreed. "She was so shy when she arrived here with her mother, she's come a long way."

"I remember when she first arrived at Torchwood," Jamie smiled. "I could tell she fancied me."

They both laughed and Rose heard them, turning around to smile at Jamie. She thought she was the lucky one. Losing the Doctor had been hard and she'd gone off afterwards to learn to live in this world and Pete had never told her Jamie was already working at Torchwood.

She could have stayed away from him but she'd reckoned she deserved some happiness in the end. Pete had somehow come across Jamie after she'd gone back to her own world and he'd figured that if she ever did find herself back here, she might find some comfort in him.

Well, it had happened and Pete had got a bonus. Jackie had settled for him and he'd not only gained a stepdaughter, he'd gained a young son, who after Jackie and Rose had been taken care of would also get a share of his Vitex fortune and his shares in Torchwood though Rose hadn't been made aware of that.

Rose excused herself and crept up behind Jamie, putting her arms around his neck.

"Hey, enjoying showing off?" Rose laughed.

"You're the one wearing the ring love," he laughed back. "How long's this party meant to last?"

"No idea. Wanna sneak off to the conservatory?" she teased him.

They were about to but were caught by Jackie.

"Where are you two off to?" she caught hold of Jamie's free arm, Rose half draped over him.

"Just five minutes Mum?" Rose pleaded with her, half letting go of Jamie but Jamie still hold of Rose.

"It's your party," Jackie reminded them both. "At least wait until it's nearly over."

She pointed them both back inside the large room and went off to fuss over something else.

"She doesn't miss much, does she?" Jamie commented to Rose as he handed her a glass of champagne from a passing waitress.

Rose didn't take the glass off him, leaving him holding them both.

"What's wrong now?" he wanted to know.

"It just reminds me of something, that's all," Rose admitted. "That night, when I was here before."

"Rose, you have to stop love, every party reminds you of that night," Jamie warned her. "Once we're married, we'll have parties at our place."

"Yeah, sorry," she told him as she took a glass, thinking she'd best get over it before she told him too much.

When it was almost midnight, Rose holding off the drink until then, everyone was gathering in the large entranceway and Jamie had been elected to be the one to go outside and let the new year in. So he gave Rose a kiss and went out two minutes before and thought back to when Pete had sent Rose away to be trained and had never mentioned she may be going to work with him, let alone ending up agreeing to marry him.

In Sandbrook, Tess had been on at Alec about trying to look like he was enjoying the party and when he'd been asked to be the one to see the new year in because he was Scottish, he'd only agreed because Tess had scowled at him and he knew there would be trouble when they got home.

Earlier, she'd already had a bit to drink and she'd whispered that perhaps when they got home, they could make an early start on patching up their marriage. Alec though still hadn't decided if he actually wanted to or not or if it had been left too late.

Maybe Daisy was right, the life of a certain personality was more interesting than her own parents' one was and he doubted it would ever get better. He was determined he wasn't going to get the blame for it though so he would try and make the effort when they got home because the way Tess had been drinking, it wouldn't take much to please her.

Little did he know it was going to cause even more trouble for him than he already had.

The next morning, Rose was in a very good mood, now officially being engaged and Jamie had gone down to fetch breakfast for them both.

"Where's Jamie going?" Tony wanted to know as he and his nanny entered the kitchen.

"Never you mind," Jackie told him, not wanting to explain. "They'll be in before they leave."

"Can I go stay with them?" the boy asked.

"They have to go back to work," Pete told him.

"So they've finished going around then?" Jackie asked. "About time, I had enough of Rose before."

"Be careful Jackie," Pete warned her. "I've not broken the news to Mickey yet. I hope now he's got a girlfriend, he won't be too bad when I have to move him."

"So he was doing Jamie's job?" Jackie wondered. "Wasn't Rose helping Jamie but Mickey can do it on his own?"

"I don't get why Rose doesn't want to tell Jamie everything," Jackie admitted.

"Maybe she will, when they get married?" Pete wondered.

Jackie caught Rose before she left, trying to make out the idea for the bridesmaids was hers.

"Your idea?" Rose eyed Jamie as he tried to sneak off. "Not so fast you," she warned him.

"Well Jamie might have mentioned ya had no idea about where to get any," Jackie had to admit.

"So you two thought most of the teenagers in the country should compete against each other and I'm supposed to pick two or three?" Rose asked. "How am I supposed to pick them?" she wanted to know.

"Well maybe not compete?" Jamie suggested. "Have them answer some questions? Maybe such as why they want to be your bridesmaid, in their own words and pick them out?"

"You're gonna volunteer to judge 'em?" Rose asked him.

"No, not me," he grinned, looking at Jackie.

"Hey, it wasn't my idea," Jackie turned on him.

"Thanks Jackie," he mumbled, making Pete laugh.

"I ought to make both of ya judge them," Rose tried to be serious. "I have to do something though, I can't have all grown-up bridesmaids. If I choose a popular magazine and give them an exclusive interview, they might offer to judge it?" she wondered. "I'll get my secretary onto it maybe but besides choosing three girls to be bridesmaids, they'll have to be one special prize," she added, looking at her mother.

Pete could see where this was going and supposed Jackie deserved it for getting involved.

"The prize could be being the head bridesmaid and staying overnight for the evening reception," he joined in, making Jackie look at him. "Plus the girl's parents. None of it can be done without their agreement if they're under eighteen," he reminded them.

Jackie gave him one of her famous 'wait until I get you later Pete Tyler' looks and went to get Tony, who was diving a toy zeppelin all over the place. Pete gave Rose a wink, Rose smiling back at him and Jamie thought he was lucky to get away with it.

"Did you put mum up to it?" Rose asked him on the way home.

"Me love?" he asked innocently. "I was only trying to help, I thought it would be a shame having no young bridesmaids. Well, back to work tomorrow then? That's if you want to? What's Pete doing about Mickey's position?"

"He's not said anything to me. Maybe he left it to Jake, he's neutral in all this?" Rose suggested.

Pete had caught hold of Jake before the new year and had asked what he thought about moving Mickey.

"Want me to tell him?" Jake suggested.

"No, it's my responsibility," Pete had told him. "When he arrives after the holiday, tell him to report to my office. It's best he hears before Rose and Jamie arrive. It won't be so bad for Jamie but I don't want Rose to face him."

"Maybe they've both forgotten?" Jake had wondered.

"Would you?" Pete disagreed.

So the following day, Mickey was getting ready for work, Martha having stayed over and regretting it.

"I knew you'd make us both late," Martha was complaining he'd taken too long coming out of the bathroom.

"No-one will be on time Martha," Mickey objected.

"Huh, you won't have to deal with all the hangovers and those ringing in sick," Martha disagreed. "It should be compulsory they have a sick note after the holidays to get away with it."

"Come on Martha, we've all done it," Mickey laughed.

"You might have done," Martha muttered under her breath. "I wonder if those rumours are true?"

"What rumours?" Mickey stopped what he was doing.

"Oh, you've not heard then?" Martha knew she'd made a big mistake, having being told a few days before. "The boss's stepdaughter and her boyfriend coming back to work. They're due for a medical," Martha replied, not knowing Mickey's past history with Rose. "I thought they were still away."

"Hey, so did I, I took their job," Mickey huffed. "When was I gonna be told?"

"Maybe they'll keep you on?" Martha patted him on the shoulder as she looked for her car keys.

Then she saw the look on his face.

"Mickey, what aren't you telling me?" she wanted to know. "Did you know them? Oh don't tell me she's an old girlfriend or something? Are you kidding me?"

"Martha, it was a long time ago, forget it," he tried to convince her.

"You have some explaining to do Mister," she decided.

As Rose and Jamie went to work, Jamie wondered why Rose was so quiet.

"I'm sure Pete won't have you bumping into Mickey," he tried to assure her.

"Ya don't understand Jamie," Rose told him as they arrived at the underground car park.

"Then tell me," Jamie tried to get her to talk to him. "I know you fell out."

Rose let out a nervous laugh.

"He reminded me of something, I couldn't forgive him," Rose admitted.

"Has it to do with you coming here?" Jamie tried to guess as they heard another car following them as Jamie tried to remember where his parking space was.

Then he did remember as another car pulled into it.

"What?" Jamie called out. "I suppose that's him then?" he asked Rose as Mickey got out, since Martha was in her own car and Jamie was in the way.

Then, Jake arrived to see Jamie and Mickey in a stand-off, having just found out where Mickey had been allocated to park, since someone had thought the space went with the job and Jamie had been away.

"Ah," Jake grinned as Jamie got out to face Mickey.

"Who are you then?" Mickey dared ask before seeing Rose. "Are you that Jamie Smith then? Rose, is that you?" he then saw her trying to hide. "You did, didn't you? You had to find someone else who looked like him."

"Mickey, why do ya have to have such a big mouth?" Jake told him. "Rose, why don't ya go up to reception an' wait there? Mickey, you knew about Jamie," he reminded Mickey.

"I was away a lot, wasn't I? Finding a way back to warn the other world," Mickey objected.

Martha had got out of her car and joined them.

"I know the reason you went off Mickey Smith," Martha told him. "Everyone knew it was to find Rose."

"Hey, I never asked him to," Rose spoke up as she got out of Jamie's car.

"Hold on," Jamie looked at Mickey. "I know I look a bit like someone Rose used to know. Is this why you two fell out?"

"Jamie, I never even knew about ya," Rose reminded him.

"That's true," Jake backed her up. "Rose was catching up on her education then sent for training."

"So everyone was told," Martha said sarcastically.

"Keep out of it Martha," Mickey warned her.

"Charming," Martha huffed. "Forget it, get yourself another girlfriend Mickey," she told him as she got back in her car to wait for Jamie to move.

"Mickey, Pete wants to see ya, so move into a visitor spot until this gets sorted out then Jamie can park there," Jake decided.

"So I'm getting thrown out of my job?" Mickey wanted to know.

"No idea mate, more than likely get moved if Rose and Jamie are back," Jake replied.

"So they did decide to come back?" Martha asked. "It helps to be related to the boss."

"I'd watch it if I were you," Rose warned her. "So who are you then?"

"Martha Jones. You must be non other than Rose Tyler then?" Martha replied. "You got engaged?"

"They did what?" Mickey stopped staring at Jamie.

"The other day, Jamie asked me on Brighton pier when it was all lit up," Rose admitted, any chance to show her ring off again.

"I would have thought you'd be busy planning your wedding then?" Martha remarked.

"We've not got a date yet so work it is," Rose replied.

"Then why can't Mickey keep his job?" Martha asked, wondering why she was still defending him.

"You must be joking, look at them," Rose laughed as they continued their staring contest. "No way."

"I still want to know how much I look like the friend you lost Rose," Jamie reminded her.

"Jamie, ya need to speak to Pete, mate," Jake told him. "Rose can't tell you."

"Then wait for me," Jamie insisted as he got back in his car, prompting Martha to back up.

After they all moved around, Jamie followed Jake and Mickey up to Pete's office, leaving Rose and Martha to go to their jobs.

"Men!" Martha laughed.

"Yeah, tell me about it." Rose agreed. "Jamie can get really jealous. When we were away, he nearly had someone fired 'cos of the way they looked at me."

"I wish I could get Mickey jealous. So, what's with you two then? I know you used to know each other before you came to work here," Martha told Rose.

"It's a long story, some of it I can't talk about, honestly. I'd best go get my ID or wait for Jake coming back. Nice to have met ya Martha."

"You too Rose. Do I get a wedding invite?" Martha asked cheekily.

"Yeah, sure. My mum and Jamie are plotting how to get me some bridesmaids by running a competition for teenagers," Rose laughed.

"Actually, it's not a bad idea," Martha agreed. "Get everyone involved, it'll be a great publicity event."

"Maybe too much," Rose laughed.

Chapter 8

Pete wanted to know why Jake, Jamie and Mickey were standing in his office.

"I nearly had to stop a fight downstairs in the parking garage," Jake laughed when he'd told Pete what it was about.

"Really you two," Pete looked at Jamie then at Mickey.

"You gave me a job, you said nothing about him coming back," Mickey pointed sideways to Jamie.

"Well what did you expect?" Jamie wanted to know.

"Stop it," Pete told them both again. "Mickey, I told you it was until Rose and Jamie came back."

"Well the way it was put, I thought they'd be away for longer," Mickey huffed.

"Well Rose wants to come back home to plan the wedding," Jamie replied sarcastically.

"Well I can see you two won't work together," Pete decided. "I'll give you any job you want, either of you but Jamie, you know more about the artefacts than Mickey does so Mickey, take some time off and think about it."

"I didn't have to come back," Mickey made a face as he clenched his fists.

"You asked to be let back mate," Jake reminded him. "How did ya know Rose and Jamie had gone away anyway?"

"I saw it in the papers, when there was an article about Rose," Mickey had to admit.

"You were still following what she did?" Pete was surprised.
"Well, what's wrong with that? Just because she took offence at what I said?" Mickey wanted to know. "You know I always did watch out for her Pete."

"That's my job now," Jamie objected. "I take great care of her, I don't need your help, Ricky."

That made Jake smile as Mickey had told him the old Doctor used to call him that, even though he himself had lost this world's version of Mickey, who had been called Ricky.

"Oi, it's Mickey," he objected. "Why'd ya call me that? What's Rose been telling ya?"

"Leave it Mickey," Pete warned him, knowing what he could be like.

He knew there were some things Rose had never told Jamie, he knew about the Doctor but not how he'd changed his appearance.

"Take my advice Mickey and go think about your position here, unless you want to move Jamie?" Pete asked his almost son-in-law.

"I don't know Pete, it's what I've been doing and Rose taught me a lot," Jamie replied.

"Well you come back to work then, you'll be on your own though?" Pete was sure Rose would be otherwise occupied. "Did Rose say anything about it?"

"She's downstairs, we left her talking to Martha," Jake grinned.

That made Pete smile, since she was meant to be Mickey's girlfriend and Martha had been excessively jealous that Rose had been Mickey's girlfriend at one point. No-one had bothered to actually tell Martha that had been in another universe.

"Well you need to clear them both," Pete told Jake.

"Well I'm not staying if they both come back," Mickey declared.

"Stop sulking mate," Jake advised him. "Just stay away from her."

"I'll make sure he does that," Jamie promised, not liking the thought of Mickey upsetting her when they had a wedding to plan. "She's only coming back for a while anyway, don't go upsetting her," he warned Mickey.

Jake went off to meet up with Rose, since he had to do a back to work assessment, telling Jamie he'd send for him later. Mickey caught up with Jake at the lifts.

"I thought you were on my side?" he asked Jake.

"I'm just tryin' to keep the peace," Jake held his hands up in defence as the lift arrived. "Go to personnel and tell them Pete's put you on paid leave, unless ya know what job ya wanna take?"

"I was doing okay in that one. You could've warned me they were coming back," Mickey complained as Jake pressed what floor they wanted.

"Hey, I only just found out myself," Jake told him as he pressed Rose's number on his phone. "Rose, meet me in my office will ya?"

Rose left Martha after laughing at the way Jamie and Mickey had been locking horns in the parking garage.

"I bet they're still both doing the same up in Pete's office," Rose laughed after Martha invited her to her office for coffee.

"Yeah, talk about taking an instant dislike to someone?" Martha agreed. "So they'd never managed to meet before?"

"No, Mickey just left after we fell out and no, I can't tell ya what it was about," Rose told her as her phone rang.

They agreed to be friends and Rose went off to meet Jake and Jamie had gone back to what had been his department. He didn't think he'd have been bothered if Rose hadn't been going back as well, not that they saw much of each other at work, Rose had her own job to do.

When everyone had left Pete's office, he had a feeling they wouldn't be seeing Mickey any more but that was his decision, he could stay away from Rose if he really wanted to. He called Jackie to warn her that there'd been a bit of a showdown, in case Rose called her.

"Well what did Mickey expect?" Jackie wanted to know. "He was the one who started it on the way back from Norway."

"I know Jackie," Pete had to agree with her. "According to Jake, he and Jamie were almost fighting down in the garage."

"That's not like Jamie," Jackie was surprised. "I mean I know he's defensive of Rose but still?"

"So he never mentioned he got into a fight with someone when they first started working away?" Pete told her.

"He never!" Jackie had to laugh. "Well at least he sticks up for her, can't say Mickey used to do much of that, except when the Doctor first came along," she recalled.

Jake was asking Rose some questions about going back to work and passed her to go back, which Rose said was a good thing he had.

"Ya know the rules," Jake grinned as he stamped the form to send to personnel that she was back and didn't need a living allowance any more.

"So, what happened in Pete's office then?" she wanted to know.

"Daggers at fifty paces," Jake laughed. "I think Mickey's left over it to be honest."

"He doesn't have to," Rose told him. "Can't ya tell him?"

"Rose, ya know what he's like," Jake reminded her. "Let him cool off for a while. So when are you and Jamie setting a date then? I was gonna ask him if I can be best man, or did I ask him before?"

"Me and Martha were talkin' about bridesmaids. Would ya believe Jamie told mum to suggest starting a competition in a teen magazine?"

"That'll cause a riot," Jake had to laugh even more.

"Well maybe not if I promise something in return for the magazine running it all?" Rose wondered. "How else am I gonna get any? I can promise the magazine an exclusive on wedding coverage."

"After the fiasco of your engagement?" Jake was still laughing.

"Don't remind me of that," Rose smiled. "Best get to work then?"

A few weeks later, Rose gave in and had her secretary contact a few of the most popular girls magazines that catered for 12-18 year olds and since one of them had several in the same group, she decided to go to them.

"So, Miss Tyler," she was being asked by the head of the publicity department. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Well, exclusive details of the wedding, photos on the day and since I want four bridesmaids in the age groups I mentioned, to choose a head bridesmaid who'll get to spend the weekend with us. Things like the dresses can be discussed later," Rose suggested.

"Sounds good," the woman agreed. "Then we'll talk again when we put a few ideas together but what kind of competition? Do you want them to answer a question, guess the date?"

"Hey, that's a good idea," Rose agreed. "We could give a choice of dates I suppose but maybe we should just keep it simple? Just have them send their name and age and where they live? They'll have to get to London themselves so they'll need their parent's permission. Have one of them sign the form giving consent maybe?"

"Well when do you want to start?" Rose was asked.

"Well it'll have to be soon, we wanted to get married no later than June," Rose admitted.

"Well, leave it with us, we won't do anything until we get your approval," Rose was assured.

She expected they'd keep their word, if they wanted to beat their rivals to the exclusive rights to her wedding.

That sorted, she went off to tell Jamie, whom she knew would be pleased his idea had worked.

"I just happened to think it may work," was all Rose was going to admit to him when asked how it had gone.

"Then we have to set a date," Jamie reminded her. "That will have to go in all the papers I expect?"

They didn't usually mess around at work but disappeared for a while as Rose told him all the preparations would be worth it.

Rose heard back from the magazine and the plans were put into place. Just a simple contest was arranged and Rose agreed only those with permission could enter and when the choice was made, it would be checked again.

When the twice monthly magazine appeared in the shops and newsstands, Rose and Jamie's photo's were all over the front page and a special four page pullout had been included with how they had met and their romance, how Jamie had formerly asked Rose to marry him and loads of other information that teenage girls wanted about a celebrity wedding.

It had been advertised in advance so newsagents had been swamped with orders from new customers not wanting to miss out on it as the contest had also been announced. The closing date had been issued, teenage and almost teenage girls were getting excited the date was going to be announced and teachers were trying to stop them whispering about it to each other in class.

Three such girls in the town of Sandbrook were all getting equally excited. Two were cousins, Pippa Gillespie and Lisa Newberry and then there was Daisy Hardy, who hadn't been very happy lately when she'd found out her dad was still in the spare room after having failed to make up with her mother in the new year.

Alec had tried his best but Tess hadn't been making it easy. He thought she'd rather had a nerve to tell him he had to want it to work when she put in minimum effort, especially after she had a false alarm at the end of January when she thought she may be pregnant. She had lost interest in him again after that. Daisy had gone to a friend's one evening when Alec had been finishing eating.

"Alec, I don't know about you but I think we should go for a proper separation," Tess declared.

"You want me to move out?" he asked, a bit confused.

"Well maybe not right away?" Tess supposed. "We should go apply for one, try not to let Daisy know just yet. Just act normally."

"She already knows Tess, in case you have not noticed," Alec pointed out to her.

"Well, just stay here then, as long as we both agree?" Tess relented. "We could get a separation any time I suppose?"

"Yes, we should try and keep as we are, at least for now," Alec agreed. "Were you thinking of going back to Dave?"

"No, what makes you think that?" Tess wondered. "Did you hear Daisy on the phone to her friend?"

"I gave up listening to her Tess, all she does is go on about that Rose Tyler," he replied.

"Well you've not heard the latest then have you?" Tess replied. "About the wedding. I heard her tell Sally the reason why she suddenly wanted me to go in the newsagents with her to place an order for that teen magazine so she wouldn't miss the next one."

"You agreed?" Alec was surprised. "What next eh?"

"Let me tell you the rest. There's some kind of contest to be one of the bridesmaids," Tess told him.

"You are not going to let her enter are you?" he asked.

"Come on Alec, how many are going to apply?" Tess wanted to know. "Let her spend the money on a stamp if her friends are doing it. Besides, she'll never forgive me if I don't let her."

"That's just it Tess, you give in to her every single time," Alec told her as he got up.

"You should try it sometime Alec," Tess replied, going to clear the kitchen table.

"Don't make me out to be the bad guy Tess," he objected.

Across the town, Pippa and Lisa were sat in Pippa's neighbours garden and Lisa was practising plaiting Pippa's hair as Claire was watching them while drinking tea.

"When's Lee going to be home?" young Pippa wanted to know.

"Any time now sweetheart," Claire smiled at her. "Lisa, that's very good, you should get some training."

"I don't know Claire," Lisa replied as Pippa tried to turn her head.

"Lisa, will you get that magazine for me then?"

"I'll try sweetheart but they may all sell out," Lisa told her, knowing how much of a fan her cousin was of Rose Tyler.

"What magazine's that?" Claire wanted to know. "There's a newsagents by the salon."

"Pippa, it's in those others as well," Lisa reminded her.

"They're for older girls," Pippa pulled a face. "I'll let Claire try, it might not sell out there. Mum wouldn't order it for me Claire," she complained.

"I'm sure there was a reason, did you tell her why you wanted it?" Claire asked her.

"There's a competition, to be one of Rose Tyler's bridesmaids. I'd do anything to win a place," Pippa grinned.

Claire had to let out a laugh.

"Sorry. Well I suppose you'd stand as much chance as anyone else?" Claire told the girl.

"Lisa could do my hair for me," Pippa smiled up at her cousin.

"So I'm out of a job then?" Claire teased her as she heard the front door open and Lee shouted for her.

"Oh, you have company?" Lee licked his lips as he stepped out to join them, putting his arms around Pippa and Lisa. "Hello girls."

"Give me the name of the magazine and I'll order it for you," Claire offered.

"Thanks Claire," Pippa got up from the stool she'd been sitting on. "Do you like my hair Lee?"

A few weeks later, Rose had been told how many entries had arrived at the magazine's office but as requested by Rose, none had yet been opened. She thought it best that she should go to the office herself, pick out four envelopes at random rather than hire staff to open them. Then with four envelopes on a table, before she opened them, she would pick one up for the prize of being the head bridesmaid and sort out the details.

Having picked one out of four, Rose opened it but handed it to the editor to read out whose name it was.

"Daisy's a nice name," Rose remarked. "Ha, that's gonna be funny, with my name. So has she got permission?"

"Yes, she has," the editor noted, making sure the entry was correct. "She lives in somewhere called Sandbrook, I'm not sure where that is."

"No, never heard of it," Rose agreed, using the letter opener on the next envelope.

She opened the next one, handed it over then went for the last one.

"Oh, this is strange," the editor remarked. "This girl is from Sandbrook too. Mind you, there's something strange, about the parent's signature."

Rose went to have a look. When Pippa had collected the magazine from Claire, Claire saying she didn't want paying for it, the girl had gone home excitedly to show her mother.

"Very nice Pippa but all celebrity weddings are the same," Cate had told her.

"This one's Rose Tyler's Mum," Pippa reminded her. "Can I enter the contest to be one of the bridesmaids? Please Mum?"

"What? How are you even going to get there?" Cate had then asked her.

"You or dad can take me and besides, parents are invited to attend," Pippa told her.

"Do you know how much a hotel will cost if we have to stay over?" Cate reminded her. "We have that other wedding soon, your dad won't want to attend another one so soon afterwards. Especially when we don't even know the people who are getting married."

"Mum, she's famous," Pippa had insisted. "My friend's would be so jealous."

"I thought you said that magazine would be sold out?" Cate had then noticed. "Did you get Lisa to get it for you?"

Pippa had then had a guilty look on her face.

"Claire got it for me," she had then admitted.

"Pippa, you shouldn't have asked her," Cate had been cross.

"Claire offered, when we were talking about it," Pippa told her. "So can I enter? I need your permission, you or dad need to sign."

"No Pippa, it shouldn't even be open to girls of your age, what is that woman thinking of?" Cate then told the poor girl.

Pippa had then got upset and gone to her room, tempted to forge her mother's signature but how would she get to the wedding? She dried a few tears that had formed and thought maybe Lisa would help her out and even if she didn't win, she could honestly tell her friends she'd had a go at it.

So Pippa's entry had been rejected when the editor called the number Pippa had given, since she didn't think it would do any harm if she didn't win.

"It's what magazine?" Cate answered, after her afternoon drinking session. "What do you want?"

She had forgotten all about Pippa's attempt to get herself invited to some celebrity's wedding.

"Is that the mother of Pippa Gillespie?" Cate was asked.

"What's she done?" Cate wanted to know.

"Well, she entered a contest, to be a bridesmaid at Rose Tyler's wedding," Cate was told.

"She did what? I told her she couldn't enter and no, I didn't give her my permission so you can pick someone else," Cate told the woman. "She's not been told she's won has she?"

"No, we had to check first," the woman told her. "Well, sorry to have troubled you. Please don't be mad with your daughter, I expect a lot have entered without getting permission as well."

"Well, they're not my problem," Cate told her before hanging up. "Pippa's going to know about this when she gets home," she turned to the man on the sofa, who was laid with one arm behind his head.

"Go easy on her Cate, I heard her talking about it with Claire and Lisa," Lee told her. "Have you finished that drink?"

"You'd better go before Pippa gets home," Cate told him as she went towards him.

"Trying to get rid of me so soon Cate?" Lee grinned as he pulled her down onto the sofa. "So, tell me again how things have got bad with Ricky that you've come to me to get back at him?"

Cate was about to raise her arm when he grabbed it.

"You're so full of it Lee," Cate told him. "I'd rather be staying here that weekend instead of going to that wedding with Ricky. I know what he'll be like, with that flask of his and what'll be in it."

"I could do with some more of that, for Claire," Lee laughed.

Chapter 9

It was Tess who took the phone call from the magazine, to say Daisy had not only been chosen as a bridesmaid but had won the special prize.

"She never?" Tess was trying to get Alec's attention.

Tess always had the home phone forwarded to her mobile in case the school rang it.

"We just needed to check she had your permission," the magazine editor was glancing at Rose.

Before the call was made, Rose was wondering if she'd have to pick another envelope.

"Well, I never expected her to actually win," Tess had to admit. "So she actually got chosen to be the head bridesmaid? Did you say she gets to stay at the Tyler mansion?"

She was wondering what it would be like, to get Daisy in the photos that would be all over the papers and magazines, not to mention the news, probably. Should she take advantage herself? What would Alec say, she wondered as she got up to go to his office.

"Well, yes. Daisy was chosen out of thousands of entries, by Rose Tyler herself," the editor told Tess. "She's here now, she'd like to speak to you."

Rose was passed the phone, hoping she wouldn't be shot down in flames like the last time.

"Hi, Daisy's mother," Rose greeted Tess. "I'll make all the arrangements, there's nothing for you to do, except get her to London," Rose assured her.

Alec was wondering what Tess was doing heading towards his office, with her mobile in her hand and talking into it.

"Tess?" he questioned her as she entered, not bothering to knock.

Tess put her hand over her mobile.

"Alec, I've got Rose Tyler on the phone. Daisy won a place as a bridesmaid, the head one," she told him.

"How do you know someone is not having you on Tess?" Alec dismissed the idea that Rose Tyler would be calling personally.

"Someone from the magazine put her on," Tess scoffed back. "Miss Tyler, my husband doesn't believe she actually won," she told Rose.

Rose let out a laugh.

"Then put him on. This is a genuine call, I'll give you my personal number, you can call me back. So, put him on if he's not sure," Rose tried to be serious.

Tess held the phone out to Alec, who reluctantly took it.

"I hope you are not going to be playing a joke on my daughter?" Alec questioned Rose.

"Geez, are you the police or something," Rose couldn't resist trying to get him back for doubting her.

"Yes, detective inspector," Alec replied indignantly. "I can easily trace this call."

"Hey, I'm who I say I am," Rose was getting furious he was being serious.

Tess was trying to take her phone back.

"Don't be so rude Alec," she told him. "Let me deal with this."

"Well I am not getting Daisy's hopes up if one of her friends is behind this," Alec insisted.

"I'm still here you know?" Rose reminded him. "Call the magazine if ya don't believe me. Fine, I'll choose someone else then, shall I? I had enough earlier when someone else from your town refused to let her daughter be one of my bridesmaids."

The way Rose was now talking, Alec was just starting to believe her. Anyone else would have laughed it off by this point, he supposed.

"Fine, I will pass you back to her mother then," he gave in.

Rose wondered why he'd said her mother and not his wife? Maybe something was not right in the Hardy household? That wasn't her concern though but she didn't want her wedding being spoiled by squabbling parents of the bridesmaids.

"I'm sorry about that," Tess apologised. "We can do this by phone for now, unless you need a photo of Daisy?"

"Tess, don't encourage the woman," Alec hissed at her.

"Yeah, I never thought of that," Rose laughed. "I won't recognise them otherwise, will I? You can send it to the magazine editor, then they can publish the results when we've got them all?"

"Fine, I'll get a few taken then," Tess agreed. "I'll tell her when she gets home or will you want to speak to her?"

"Ah, well yeah," Rose thought the poor girl wouldn't believe she'd actually won. "I'll call again later then, we were just checking for permission."

She still had two more to do plus get a replacement envelope chosen. How had she ever got herself into this, she should have made Jamie and her mother choose them, it was their idea. The next two calls were slightly easier and Rose had picked another entry, the editor seeing the consent looked genuine and told the winners they needed to send a photo.

"Well that wasn't too bad," Rose grinned as they looked at all the unopened envelopes. "I feel guilty now. All those hopefuls, what did my mother start?"

"So it wasn't your idea?" the editor Sophie smiled.

"Well I didn't know anyone," Rose admitted. "Imagine if all of them had to be opened if there'd been a question to answer," she nodded to the envelopes.

"Well I'm glad there wasn't," Sophie agreed. "Why don't we put a free gift inside the wedding edition?" she suggested. "A bracelet or something, not too expensive of course."

"How many copies are we talking about?" Rose asked. "Well I suppose it would also compensate those who weren't allowed to enter?" she added, remembering the first girl whom she'd chosen. "I hope that young girl doesn't get into trouble."

"Well we sometimes do put free gifts in," Sophie admitted. "If it's for your wedding special, we'll have no problem getting them made, probably at no cost if it's known who supplied them."

"I expect there'll be a lot of interest then?" Rose smiled.

Sophie was already planning the wedding special plus all the extra revenue from advertisers, they may run out of room. Rose finally left, feeling pleased with herself but she wished she'd talked to the mother of that young girl, Sophie had insisted on dealing with it herself. Maybe it wouldn't have made much difference though?

Pippa Gillespie was on the school bus, heading home since her mother had failed to collect her.

"Hey Pippa," some girls opposite her called over. "Did you enter that bridesmaids contest then?" the ringleader asked her as four girls were squashed up on a double seat.

"Didn't everyone?" one of the girls laughed. "Bet your mother didn't let you though?" she directed the question at poor Pippa.

"Yeah, I entered, I got her to give in," Pippa lied, since she'd finally got Lisa to sign it.

"Well, one of us is gonna win so you wasted your time," another girl laughed.

"And a stamp," the last one joined in.

They all turned away, hoping they'd upset Pippa sufficiently. That was why Pippa hated getting the bus on a morning as well, once a day was bad enough with those four. She was glad Claire and Lee dropped her off sometimes and wished Lee would get out of the car and escort her to the gate, to make those four opposite get jealous.

She got off the bus at the top of the road and walked towards home and was just entering the street when she was sure Lee had just come out of their house. Lee had nothing to do so he thought he'd waste his time with Cate, if she'd not drunk that much. He'd had the misfortune to be there when Cate had got the call from the magazine.

"I'm going to be having words with Lisa when she comes round again," Cate had told him. "She must have forged my signature on that competition entry."

"Come on Cate, they're just kids," Lee had told her. "I heard Pippa going on about it to Claire."

"I hope Pippa never asked you or Claire to sign?" Cate asked him.

Lee just laughed and got up to leave.

"You women and weddings," he told her. "You and Ricky still off to that other one then?"

"We already told them we'd go but I wish I'd said no now," Cate admitted. "I don't know if I can trust Lisa overnight with Pippa."

"Me and Claire can keep an eye on them for you," he offered, hoping to get in her good books.

"Well if you're sure?" Cate was tempted. "I suppose I can trust you?"

Lee held his hands up.

"I could take offence at that question," he grinned. "I'm off before Pippa walks in from school then? I could go out the back way."

"Get out of here Lee," Cate replied, seeing the look on his face.

As he went out, he was sure the young girl was just coming around the corner of the street so he quickly opened the door and hoped she'd not noticed him. Pippa got inside her house and called to her mother. She knew any time soon, the bridesmaids would be chosen but she'd be caught out if they bothered to check the permission part of the form.

Lisa had tried her best to copy Cate's handwriting but had said she wasn't promising anything.

"Come in here Pippa, I want a word with you," Cate called her before Pippa could get upstairs. "Who forged that signature on that silly competition I told you not to enter?"

"Which one was that Mum?" Pippa tried to act all innocent.

"You know Madam," Cate told her. "Was it Lisa?"

"How did you find out, did they check?" Pippa admitted. "Did I win?"

"Oh no you don't Pippa, don't think you got away with it," Cate faced her daughter and grabbed her arm. "So you thought you'd get Lisa to help you, did you? Well forget it Pippa, I told them I did not give my permission and to choose someone else."

Pippa pulled back, rubbing her arm.

"Mum, you mean Rose Tyler rang here?" she stuttered.

"Of course not, why would she? It was only someone from that magazine. When did you sneak off to buy it anyway? Did you get Lisa to buy it for you?" Cate wanted to know.

Pippa tried not to look guilty but it was better laying the blame on her cousin rather than Claire.

"Wait until I see her," Cate then told Pippa. "I should tell your father, young lady."

"Please don't Mum," Pippa pleaded with her. "I just wanted to try, all my friends were sending their applications. I never gave any details, just my age."

"I should think not, have you any idea what they use your information for?" Cate asked her. "They target young girls like you, with all kinds of things. I've a good mind to cancel that wedding and not let Lisa stay overnight with you."

Across town, Tess had just got home before Daisy, wondering why Alec hadn't believed Daisy could actually win something. After the call, he'd tried to get out agreeing to go.

"Why would I want to go to a celebrity wedding?" he had complained when Tess had gone on about it.

"We have to show our support to Daisy," Tess had tried to convince him.

"Well it won't look good if all we do is argue all the time," he had used the excuse. "Then there's the question of staying over. You did say the prize was staying overnight after the wedding?"

"Daisy and I can share, you can have the room they give to her," Tess had told him, beginning to enjoy herself to get back at him. "Spend some time with Daisy for goodness sake."

Daisy was delighted to be told Rose herself would be calling her when Tess told her.

"No-one's going to believe it Mum," Daisy had told Tess. "Everyone will be so jealous. Will dad be going with us?"

"I've tried to get him," Tess admitted. "You'll just have to work on him. When you get another call, ask when it is."

"Well I hope dad doesn't use the excuse he can't get the weekend off," Daisy then complained.

Rose had got home, pleased the plans were coming together. Now, she had to organise four bridesmaids dresses though. She'd discussed some arrangements with her mother and they had decided on an afternoon wedding so everyone taking part had time to get there and get changed. The other three bridesmaids could share a room and Jackie suggested they hired the dresses, since Jamie was hiring a wedding suit.

Then there was just Tony to sort out but he'd insisted he wanted to be like Jamie, which had made them laugh as getting Tony to wear a suit wasn't going to be easy. They may just have to leave that with Jamie himself.

So Rose told him the bridesmaids were sorted and he was going to have to take charge of Tony when he got home.

"Fine Rose but we still don't have a date, remember?" he asked her.

"How about the beginning of May?" Rose suggested, sure they'd already mentioned that.

"Rose, that only gives us about six weeks love," Jamie reminded her. "End of May?"

"Right but we stick to that, agreed?" Rose replied, putting her arms around his neck. "I'd best call mum, she has the wedding invitations on standby."

"I can imagine," Jamie laughed as he went to kiss her. "Best get the PR department to issue a statement then?"

Everything was going to plan over the next few weeks. The marquee was booked, the DJ and live entertainment for the smaller evening reception for specially invited guests, including a now nervous Daisy Hardy, who had been given a link to the dresses the bridesmaids would be wearing.

"That woman must have some money," Tess was telling Alec as it started getting into the newspapers. "You won't let Daisy down, will you Alec?"

"Of course I won't Tess. I know it's important to her. Have you been given the arrangements yet?" he asked.

"Only what time to get there and that Daisy has seen the dresses being worn. I'm sure no-one will notice us Alec," Tess replied. "Oh, an official wedding invitation arrived this morning," she added. "Best not say I've gone back to my maiden name."

"I'm sure they are not interested Tess," Alec replied.

He was going to regret that statement shortly. Cate Gillespie hadn't cancelled the wedding she and Ricky were going to after all. His only complaint was having to share a hotel room with her when she'd had too much to drink but then he'd made his mind up he was going to see which of the female wedding guests would invite him to their room.

Lee had mentioned to Claire that he'd offered to keep an eye on the two girls while Cate and Ricky were away.

"You should have told me Lee," Claire got angry with him when she found out. "I was going out with some friends and maybe staying overnight.

"Well that gives me more time alone with Lisa then," Lee taunted her.

"You would as well," Claire snapped at him.

"Come on Claire, why do you keep inviting them round then? I've seen the way you look at Ricky."

Claire raised her hand but he fended her off. She ducked out of his way but he pushed her against the wall, aiming his other hand up her back.

"I hate you sometimes Lee," she told him as they were getting dressed again. "Were you joking about Lisa?"

"What do you think Claire?" he replied. "Maybe she's ready? Maybe when you're out I'll invite them both over?"

Pippa had still been getting taunted about entering the contest but it was dying down slightly. She was relieved none of the four involved had won either and she'd told no-one she'd been turned down for it. In the next magazine edition, the names of the four lucky girls had been released and Pippa was upset someone from the town had won the special prize.

It was also announced a special gift, chosen by Rose herself would be given away in the wedding edition and for readers to place their orders so as not to be disappointed. Rose hadn't wanted any of them to be disappointed but expected it would be a free-for all if they didn't heed the warning it may sell out.

Pippa and her friend were talking about it, Pippa having to pretend she wasn't that jealous of Daisy Hardy from the same school but a higher class in a different building so she didn't have to see her being followed around everywhere.

Daisy was quite enjoying herself once the news got out but Alec wasn't pleased when Tess had allowed the local newspaper to interview her.

"Alec, she would have been in the wedding photos," Tess pointed out to him. "At least I made sure it was done properly."

"Well I hope so Tess. Does she know about us though?" he asked her.

"She knows something's going on Alec," Tess reminded him. "We can keep it civil, for her sake, can't we?"

"As long as you do Tess," Alec told her. "You knew it was coming."

"Yes and you had to be the one who made the first move, Alec," Tess reminded him.

"How do you expect me to feel when you don't even hide the fact about you and Dave around the station anymore," he asked her. "It's one thing you being work partners, you said there was nothing more and I trusted you."

"You always suspected Alec," Tess told him.

"You fooled me Tess. Enough though, I will go to that wedding with you and Daisy, for her sake, not yours. Clear?" he asked her.

The wedding plans were going nicely but on the day Cate and Ricky Gillespie were setting off for their friends' wedding, Ricky was determined Cate wasn't going to spoil his fun later on. Cate had argued about him driving but had won in the end and they had ordered a taxi. Cate was giving Lisa last minute instructions as Pippa was out riding her bike up and down the street.

"Keep an eye on Pippa," Cate was warning Lisa yet again.

"I know how to look after her Cate," Lisa told her aunt bluntly.

"Don't be cheeky Lisa," Ricky interrupted them. "Stay away from next door as well."

"Ricky, someone has to take charge if something happens," Cate insisted.

"What's going to happen Cate?" Ricky had wanted to know. "We're going to be miles away and you won't let me take the car so nothing had better happen."

"Will you two stop?" Lisa interrupted them. "Just go, we'll be fine. If there's any trouble, I'll just have to try and call you or go next door."

Cate shook her head and went to see if the taxi had arrived.

"Jealous if I go see Lee?" Lisa asked Ricky cheekily.

"You little tart," Ricky hissed at her.

"You think I'm saving myself for you?" Lisa laughed. "Well I've got news for you, 'Uncle' Ricky.

He was about to raise his hand to her when Cate shouted the taxi had arrived. Cate had called Pippa over to tell her to behave for Lisa.

"Don't worry Mum," Pippa had told Cate, going to give her a hug. "We'll go see Claire if anything's wrong."

"You do that then sweetheart. I'll bring you some cake back," Cate replied, kissing Pippa's forehead.

"Can I ask Claire to do my hair tomorrow Mummy?" Pippa then asked as Ricky came out with a small case. "Bye Daddy," she went to give him a hug.

As they got into the taxi and Pippa waved to them, they had no idea how events were going to turn out and Cate would never see her daughter alive again and that her husband would be partly responsible.

Alec had been looking forward to meeting Daisy in the town then she was going to visit his apartment for a few hours, just to see if she felt like staying over next time. Tess was giving the almost teenager a lecture not to be so hasty in making her mind up.

"Mum, he's been asking me for weeks now," Daisy was telling Tess on the way. "I still don't know why he had to move out though. Can't you two get on?"

"Daisy, we've tried but your dad insisted he moved out," Tess was trying to steer the blame away from herself. "Don't worry, I made him promise he’ll take you to Rose Tyler's wedding."

"I hope he won't let me down at the last minute Mum, he'd better not find something else to do," Daisy replied.

"I'll make sure you get there," Tess promised.

"I want him to see me in my bridesmaid's dress Mum. They look gorgeous on the website," Daisy was getting excited.

"Well, they could look different in real life," Tess warned her as they approached where Alec was waiting.

Daisy greeted Alec, then they went to look around the shopping centre and get something to eat.

"So, how are you getting on at school?" Alec was asking, running out of things to say.

"Fine Dad. I'm glad that wedding's during the holidays, I'm going to need time to recover," she told him.

"It's only a wedding Daisy," he replied, getting tired of hearing about it already and it was weeks away.

Why had he promised he'd still take her? Tess was quite capable of going on her own, weddings were more her thing than his. It was Daisy who would get all the attention, he and Tess would be seated somewhere with other guests the couple had invited, they wouldn't get to sit with family and close friends. Then they had to endure the formal evening reception, Daisy had been told that was only for special guests which even the other bridesmaids weren't invited to.

Why had his daughter have to be picked to be the head bridesmaid? Well he hoped the bride and groom wouldn't pay him and Tess much attention but knowing Tess, she would throw herself into it just to show him up.

Chapter 10

Just about a month to go to Rose's wedding and the news had come through on the radio – two young cousins had gone missing in the town of Sandbrook. It had now been going on for weeks and Alec still suspected the next door neighbours. He'd discovered the Ashworths rented the house from Ricky Gillespie, the youngest girl's father and Alec wondered if there had been a fallout and it was some sort of retaliation.

Tess also thought Claire was involved as well.

"Well, you wouldn't think she was involved Alec," Tess had told him when they were getting nowhere fast.

"Think about it Tess," he replied, taking his specs off that he'd taken to wearing more, since he had a permanent headache. "I told you, something is not right about those two. Maybe Lee Ashworth waited until his wife was out then he went too far and the girls ran off? He went after them, chased them through the woods and Pippa fell in the river?"

"Alec, that's another different version of events," Tess reminded him.

"Well you think of another scenario then," he invited her.

Tess shook her head.

"Don't you go forgetting we leave for London on Friday afternoon," she added.

"I know but why do you need me to go?" he wanted to know, still determined to get out of it if he could.

He was tired of seeing magazines and newspaper supplements lying around with Rose and Jamie's faces on the front and Tess was hoarding those with pictures of the bridesmaids on them. Her colleagues knew of her split with Alec and not said anything about it except the women were on her side and the males were patting Alec on the back and saying hard luck.

Rose had heard who was leading the investigation and had sent a text to poor Daisy, asking if she would still be attending the wedding. Daisy had replied she wouldn't miss it for anything, much to Rose's relief. Then Rose was fussing around, driving Jamie crazy that he had to go to work to get away. He loved her, he had no doubts about getting married but it was getting a bit too much when he got home and she'd changed her mind about something.

"Rose, sweetheart, will you please calm down?" he tried to tell her when there were only a few days to the wedding. "There's nothing else to do. Tell you what, why don't you go visit that spa you like tomorrow?" he suggested. "You'll feel more relaxed love for the big day."

"Yeah, maybe you're right?" Rose had to agree. "Everything's at mum's now and no, you're not seeing my wedding dress," she smiled at the thought of him sneaking in their room at the mansion and trying to find where she'd hung it up.

"I'm sure I can wait a few more days love," he replied as they ate breakfast. "I might take the day off to do a few things, just adding a few touches and a surprise for you."

"Aw, ya don't have to surprise me Jamie," she leaned over to take his hand.

"I'm the luckiest guy in this universe, marrying Rose Tyler," he grinned back.

"You're such a softie Jamie," she replied. "Remember, ya have to promise ya won't pick a fight at the wedding with every male who wants to kiss the bride," she teased him.

"I will try not to love but it won't be easy," he tried to be serious.

In the back of his mind, he was dreading it, having to shake hands with the men and watch them either kiss her cheek, which was just about bearable or kiss her on the lips. That was why Jake was his best man, to pull him back if he thought someone was taking a bit longer than the others.

There had been a few incidents of his jealousy but he'd not hit or threatened anyone. He had stormed off, leaving new Torchwood agents puzzled as to his behaviour and that was due to him overhearing them in the canteen talking about seeing her in a magazine.

Jake had told him to get used to it over the coming weeks leading up to the wedding. He was getting worried Jamie would do something stupid at the wedding reception and hoped he was worrying over nothing. They had gone to get their suits for the big day, Jake choosing a modern grey suit but they had all refused to wear tall hats.

Jackie had finally chosen her mother of the bride outfit, a light mauve shiny material jacket and long skirt and a blouse with a matching hat with big feathers. Rose had been there earlier and Jackie had modelled it for her.

"It looks great Mum, honestly," Rose had tried to assure Jackie.

"I hope no-one else is wearing the same colour," Jackie was worried, making Rose smile at the thought of clashing outfits.

"Mum, all the women will be wanting to know where you got the outfit, you'll be setting a trend," she laughed.

"Well it's not about me, is it? It's your big day sweetheart. You two look so happy together," Jackie replied. "What time are you coming over on Friday?"

"Probably before lunch, we have the head bridesmaid arriving, she has to try on her dress," Rose replied. "I should call them and see what time they're arriving. I feel so sorry for her parents, having to deal with that poor girl's death."

"Well no-one had better mention it to them," Jackie replied.

"Jamie suggested I go off to the spa tomorrow, to try and wind down. Why don't ya come with me?" Rose suggested.

"I don't know Rose, the house has to be decorated," Jackie was reluctant to agree.

"Mum, let the staff deal with it," Rose insisted. "Take some time off and relax."

Jackie reluctantly agreed and the next morning, they got Pete's driver to drive them out of the city to a country spa Rose had found online. Jamie had dropped Rose off at the mansion before going to work, telling her it was his treat as he wanted her to be nice and relaxed for the wedding .

"Have a good day out love," he had told her as she kissed his cheek before getting out of his fancy sports car.

"Aw, thanks for paying for it babe," she smiled at him. "You do know I'm getting butterflies in my tummy, the wedding being so near?"

"Yeah? Me too," he admitted in a voice that reminded Rose of the Doctor's when he got excited. "See you tonight love, I won't be late home, it's going to be our last night, before I make you my wife."

"Nothing's gonna change Jamie," Rose reminded him.

"I wasn't saying it was love but maybe more exciting eh?" he hinted. "You promised to give in to me, remember?"

"I remember," she teased him, kissing his nose. "Ya can't really blame me ya know? I wanted it to be special Jamie, we both have never really committed ourselves to anyone before."

"I know that Rose, it will be special, on our wedding night, or morning, depending when the evening reception finishes, knowing your mother," he laughed.

"Well that depends when the guests wanna leave as well," Rose replied. "They'll be a few guests staying over as well, including my head bridesmaid's family. I bet she's getting really excited."

"Yes, I can imagine love, she'll be more nervous than you," Jamie laughed as he could see Jackie at one of the windows. "Sure you don't want to sneak off early and book into a hotel?"

"No, it's best we stay there, then we won't have our luggage to move twice," Rose reminded him.

He went off, hoping Rose had nerves for all the right reasons and not that she was going to change her mind.

So Rose and Jackie had a nice day out, being picked up at four, Rose going in with Jackie to see Tony.

"You smell funny Rose," Tony joked with her. "So do you Mum."

"Come here you little rascal," Rose pretended to chase him. "Have you been practising holding that ring cushion like dad showed ya?"

Tony nodded his head, a big grin on his face.

"Yep, I'm really good at it," he told her proudly. "Dad even put two rings on it to help me, I never dropped them, did I Mum?" he asked Jackie.

"Great, Jamie will be happy about that. Well, see ya tomorrow Tony, we'll be over early to get ready for the party," Rose told him.

"Can I stay up then Mum?" Tony wanted to know.

"We'll see then but ya have to be up early on Saturday morning to get ready for the wedding," she agreed.

"Jamie will help me, won't he Rose?" Tony looked at her.

"Yeah, 'course he will," she smiled. "I have to go now, Mum, see ya tomorrow."

"What's Jamie decided?" Jackie asked as they walked out.

"Well we're staying here after the wedding," Rose told her. "I think he'll take one of the guest rooms tomorrow night, then he can drink all he wants at the party."

"He'd better be in a fit state to marry you," Jackie had to laugh.

When Jamie had got to work, Jake had lured him up to the staff cafeteria when Pete had given permission for them to put banners with 'Rose and Jamie' on them with wedding rings and other decorative items all over the place. Instead of individual presents, there was one large one, that Jake had been in charge of looking after in his security office and it had been taken up that morning.

So, Jake and Jamie were on their way to the top of the building and most people had already gathered for their lunch break, being told to act as normal in the memo that had gone around the building.

"Okay Jake, what do you want to talk to me about?" Jamie was getting suspicious already.

"My best man's speech, what do ya think?" Jake laughed, having slowed down the lift before he'd called for Jamie. "Anything you want me to add or avoid?"

"Just don't say anything embarrassing," Jamie replied, looking at the floor numbers. "What's wrong with this lift, isn't it the express one?"

"I'll take a look later, might need adjusting again," Jake tried to throw Jamie off.

When they got out of the lift, other employees were getting out of one of the lifts opposite, acting normally but as Jake pushed open the double doors, everyone stopped what they were doing and shouted 'Surprise!' at Jamie as Jake stepped to one side and started cheering.

Jamie was thrown off and ran his fingers through his hair then as they continued, he tried to motion for them to stop with one hand and raised his other.

"Thank you, everyone," he managed to say, looking at Jake. "I knew you were up to something, this has you written all over it Jake," he laughed as everyone went quiet, except for the staff behind the counters and in the kitchen area.

"Ya got me," Jake was laughing. "Shame we never got Rose here but Pete said you packed her and Jackie off to a spa for the day."

Everyone joined in the laughter. Then Pete had joined them, standing behind Jamie and put his hand on Jamie's shoulder.

"Yeah, nice one Jamie," Pete laughed. "How could I have told Rose and her mother not to go? Jackie was looking forward to it."

"Sorry about that Pete, I had no idea Jake had organised this. I suppose if he'd told Rose, she would have been bound to let it slip," Jamie replied.

"Well, since you two never have secrets between you, probably," Pete replied. "Well with you not being here tomorrow, we had to plan this in a hurry so on behalf of Torchwood staff and agents, everyone wants to wish you and Rose all the happiness in the world. It seems deciding to employ you before Rose even joined us, was the best thing I ever did."

"Thanks Pete, I really appreciate that. She even forgave me for thinking she was my assistant when we first met," Jamie admitted as everyone laughed. "You and her mother have always been family to me since Rose and I started our relationship and you both accepted me. I want you to know how much I love Rose and that I intend to keep her as happy as she's been ever since we saw each other."

"Well after what happened before she met you, she certainly changed that day she came to work here. Her mother and myself thought she would never settle down," Pete admitted. "Anyway, over to you Jake, this was your idea," he laughed again.

"Hey, don't blame it all on me Boss," Jake laughed. "I had some help from maintenance, who slowed the express lift and made sure no-one used it while I went to get the victim, sorry I mean the groom."

Everyone began laughing again as Jake went over to where the large present had been carefully wrapped with several rolls of silver and wedding paper with rings and champagne glasses all over it, a big red bow on the top that two secretaries had been working on all morning. Jamie was scratching his head, wondering if it was dozens of smaller boxes inside a large one.

"No Jamie, it's not something in disguise," Jake knew what he was thinking. "I heard ya saying that when you got married, you'd still go out as often as ya already did and that Rose would probably have other ideas about it. Well, what's under this wrapping paper may help with that. Don't worry, I'll have it delivered to your place."

"So we have to open it when we get back from our honeymoon?" Jamie asked.

"That was the idea," Pete told him, his hand on Jamie's shoulder again. "You can explain it to Rose."

"Ya are kidding?" Rose laughed when he got home and told her he'd been hi-jacked by Jake at lunchtime.

"No I'm not, he had it well planned," Jamie told her. "You should see the size of the present someone had the job of wrapping up. Jake's having it delivered so you'd best arrange it with him."

"He'll probably ring me in the morning," Rose replied. "Well, wanna see how good I smell after that spa treatment?"

"You know I can't resist you after one of those love," he grinned. "You would have been better going tomorrow I suppose?"

"We've too much to do tomorrow Jamie and besides, for what the treatment cost, you'll still be able to smell it on me by Saturday," she teased him.

"I'll be checking love, don't worry," he teased her back. "It will be worth every penny."

Over in Sandbrook, Daisy Hardy was driving her mother crazy.

"I wish it was already tomorrow Mum," she was telling Tess. "You are taking the day off?"

"Yes, of course I am but your father is working in the morning," Tess told the anxious teenager.

"I won't forgive him if he's late picking us up," Daisy huffed, folding her arms.

"Don't worry, he'll be here and if not, we'll go on our own," Tess promised.

"I want him to be there Mum, he can do this one thing for me, can't he? I mean it will the best day of my life, being Rose Tyler's bridesmaid and actually getting to stay there," she told her mother.

Tess shook her head. Just let Alec let his daughter down, she would be so mad at him. She called him to make sure he wasn't going to try and get out of it.

"Yes, I said I would be there Tess," Alec reminded her. "I know she's excited about it, I only agreed to keep her happy. I'm not one for weddings."

"Yes, I know," Tess replied, after he'd failed to go to her cousin's wedding a while back and she'd had to make excuses for his absence.

"I don't know why we have to go tomorrow though?" he questioned her.

"Alec, it's part of the prize, meeting her and her family plus we're invited to the party that they're having with just friends," Tess told him.

Alec was dreading it, he wasn't big on parties either. He couldn't bring himself to spoil his daughter's day but he wished Rose Tyler had been more mindful of what teenage girls were like about their idols. Didn't the woman have enough friends and relatives to be bridesmaids? He'd overheard Daisy telling Tess that Rose had come from a council estate before Pete Tyler had met her mother.

The next day, Alec worked a few hours though the chief was ordering the case was losing the extra backing and they should concentrate on the next door neighbours. Alec had told him Lee Ashworth now had an alibi, even though the man's wife seemed equally guilty. They had been talking when Alec had arrived.

"What are your plans for the weekend Alec?" the chief had wanted to know.

"Going somewhere with Tess and Daisy," Alec replied, thinking he was probably going to be asked to take charge over the holiday.

"You, going with Tess?" the chief had to laugh.

"It's more for Daisy, she's being a bridesmaid," Alec replied, not wanting to give too many details.

"Oh, the one Tess was on about?" the chief wondered. "Wasn't that the wedding of the Vitex heiress?"

"Did she tell the whole bloody station?" Alec was annoyed Tess couldn't keep her big mouth shut.

"Too late Alec," the chief patted Alec's shoulder. "I was going to ask if you could take charge if anything happens over the weekend though? I'll have to ask Harris I suppose?"

"Daisy won't ever forgive me if I don't go with her," Alec replied. "I don't really want to go."

"Never mind, they'll be plenty of booze," the chief assured him. "What's with you going to a wedding though? Tess complained you wouldn't go with her to one a while back."

"Never mind that, I have paperwork to finish before I go," Alec told him.

"Well, next time, maybe you will want rescuing?" the chief laughed.

Alec finished on time and set off to pick up Tess and Daisy. His case was in the back of the car, containing his best suit, dress shirt and clothes for before and after and the party. He thought he may as well be going for a week. Daisy had talked Tess into getting a new dress for the party so Tess had treated herself at the same time.

Alec set the car's navigation system with the address Daisy had been given and he'd been told by Tess to show the invitation if anyone was on the gate when they arrived. At the Tyler mansion, Jamie was keeping Tony occupied while things were being set up for the party that evening.

Jake was organising a security detail, having put someone on the gate to direct any deliveries to the marquee that had been set up and the kitchen door around the back of the house. Rose was inspecting the decorations in the large marquee.

"Is everything to your satisfaction Miss Tyler?" the head of the catering staff was asking her. "Of course, the staff will be in their uniforms at the event itself."

"Yeah, it looks really nice. So while everyone's outside taking photos and stuff, the tables will be brought out and the chairs moved?" she wanted to know.

"Yes Miss Tyler, we have had full instructions from your mother," she was told. "Any last minute instructions?"

"Not that I can think of," Rose had to admit. "You've all done a great job."

"Thank you. Now I will see how the others are getting on for this evening's party, if you will excuse me?"

Rose let him go and sat on one of the chairs on the last row, looking around her. In twenty four hours or so, the place would be full of people watching her marry Jamie. He was the love of her new life here when she had been so miserable after coming back from seeing the Doctor on that beach. She had gone up there, so full of hope he'd found a way of getting her back and then Mickey had opened his big mouth on the way back.

She got up and went outside, seeing that a car had stopped at the gate and one of Jake's men was leaning towards the driver's window.

"We are expected," Alec had told the man, being handed the card by Tess. "My daughter is the head bridesmaid."

"I was told to expect you, drive towards the house, someone will show you where to park," Alec was told.

Daisy was peering through the windscreen.

"Wow, look at the size of this place," she gasped.

"What did you expect?" Tess asked her. "Remember your manners when you meet Rose and her family."

Alec raised his eyebrows, hoping Tess would remember hers and their agreement that she and Daisy would share a room and he'd get the other room.

Rose had waited to see who was in the car and was half expecting it to be her head bridesmaid and was looking forward to meeting her and the two lead detectives in a murder investigation. She had been following the case in the news and nothing appeared to be happening at present.

She caught up with the car as Alec was guided into the large garage on its own at the side of the house.

"Hi. You must be the Hardys then?" she asked Alec as he got out first, holding her hand out.

"Alec, nice to meet you Miss Tyler," he replied going to shake her hand.

Rose shuddered for a second as it felt like the Doctor's had done. Who on Earth was her bridesmaid's father?

Chapter 11

Alec had felt something as well but recovered faster than Rose did, thinking it just seemed Rose's hand fit perfectly in his. He was aware Daisy was getting out of the car behind him and Tess taking her time around the passenger side.

"Ah, my daughter, Daisy," Alec felt Daisy put her arm in his.

"Hi, nice to finally see ya," Rose greeted the teenager.

"I thought I'd never get here," Daisy was all excited. "This place is enormous," she glanced behind her at the mansion.

"Yeah, I still get lost sometimes," Rose laughed as Tess approached.

"Nice to meet you Miss Tyler," Tess came forward, feeling left out and Alec was still staring at Rose.

Tess knew she was going to have more trouble with him than Daisy, he wasn't going to be giving her any attention, it was all on the bride to be. Maybe the Vitex heiress would mistake him for the groom, if Alec was actually going to shave for the actual wedding.

"Well, come inside then, I was just looking at the marquee," Rose tore her glance away from Alec. "Someone will get your luggage for ya. Your dress is in your room Daisy, try it on and if there's any problems, we can get them sorted. Come down to the kitchen when you're all ready, we'll be having afternoon tea soon, before the party."

Alec handed his car key to one of the male staff who had come out and followed the others inside, Daisy still staring at the open reception area and the ornate staircase. He decided Tess could explain their sleeping arrangements, there was no way he was sleeping in the same room just to keep up the illusion they were still married.

Tess held Alec back before following their luggage upstairs.

"I'll get Daisy's dress out of the room meant for her," she told him.

"Fine Tess, we may as well admit our arrangement," Alec replied as he went off, seeing Rose disappear around a corner.

"I saw the way you looked at her Alec, she's getting married tomorrow, that's why we're here," Tess reminded him.

Alec wasn't about to admit it so he went upstairs after Daisy, who was waiting for them.

"I think I'll get lost around here Dad," Daisy admitted.

"Don't go wandering into the wrong room," Alec warned her. "We don't know if anyone else has been invited to stay over who's invited to the party tonight."

"She will be with me," Tess reminded him. "We won't be staying up too late anyway."

Alec thought that was a good one for her, she was always hanging on until the last minute if they'd been invited anywhere. It was like she was afraid of missing something. Then he'd realised she was just delaying going home because she was seeing Dave.

Rose had caught up with Jamie and they'd gone into the conservatory.

"Hey, getting the wedding jitters yet?" Rose teased him as they sat on the wicker sofa.

"Rose, I don't get the jitters, as you call it," Jamie insisted. "Why are we hiding away?"

"Because mum will drive us nuts if we show up early for tea," Rose told him.

"Ah, good point then," Jamie laughed as he sneaked a kiss. "Well, this is it."

"Yeah, just think," Rose had a big grin on her face. "At least my head bridesmaid arrived, I hope the others do."

"Don't worry Rose, what teenage girl wouldn't kill to have got such an honour?" he reminded her.

"Do ya know what's sad though?" Rose asked him. "The girl who got killed, I'm sure she was the one whose mother refused to let her be one of the bridesmaids. I'm pretty sure she was, we thought it funny Daisy came from the same town."

"Sorry love," Jamie sympathised, knowing all the trouble she'd gone to just to select three girls out of all those readers of that magazine.

"I hope her mother doesn't remember," Rose told him, their arms around each other.

"I wouldn't have thought so," Jamie agreed.

Cate Gillespie had remembered that she'd banned Pippa from entering that competition, then she'd found out Lisa had helped her. Ricky had wanted to know what was wrong that same morning, though he was on the verge of moving out.

"Out with it Cate, you've been acting funny the last few days. Do you know something I don't?" he'd asked before going off to work.

"How can you go to work Ricky, when Lisa's still missing?" she wanted to know. "Do you think they'd still be here if we'd not gone to that wedding?"

"I don't know Cate," he told her.

Would they have still gone next door and would he have still caught Lisa having sex with Lee? He might not have lashed out and killed Lisa by accident and would have taken Pippa home instead of leaving Claire to deal with her. He knew Claire and Lee had killed her, despite what they'd said.

"Where did you get to all that night?" Cate suddenly asked him. "I never saw you."

"You were in no state to see anyone Cate," Ricky replied. "I was there."

"You can't prove that," Cate told him.

"Don't be stupid Cate, the police have already asked you where I was, you said I was with you," he reminded her.

"What was I supposed to tell them?" Cate wanted to know. "That you were probably off chasing one of the guests or bridesmaids? I saw you sneaking that flask of yours to the wedding."

"How would you know what I was doing that night?" he replied. "Why didn't you call Lisa and made sure she hadn't taken Pippa next door?"

"She still wouldn't have taken any notice," Cate insisted. "If she wanted to see Lee, she wouldn't have left Pippa on her own, you know she was devoted to Pippa. No, she would have taken Pippa with her, probably put her into their spare room, if Claire had been out."

"Didn't Claire tell the police she was in all night?" Ricky remembered Tess saying something about it.

"I thought I could trust her, so what the hell happened Ricky?" Cate asked, filling her glass again.

"Well the police aren't doing much now," Ricky reminded her. "I heard Tess say something about going to a wedding this weekend."

"Well it's hardly likely to be that Rose Tyler's wedding," Cate laughed. Then she went serious. "Ricky, Pippa would have been going to it if I'd not stopped her."

"What?" Ricky stopped what he was doing. "Why would Pippa have been going? What did Lisa put in her head?"

"It wasn't Lisa, not at first. There was a competition in that magazine she used to get Lisa to buy her. It was to be one of Rose Tyler's bridesmaids," Cate started to tell him. "She went behind my back and got Lisa to sign for her and she won. I got a call a while back and I went crazy about it and said Pippa couldn't go."

"Why did you never tell me?" Ricky wanted to know.

"Would you have been bothered?" Cate replied. "We'd have been invited as well but I was so annoyed about Lisa pretending to be me."

"Why was there even a competition, can't Rose Tyler even get her own bridesmaids?" Ricky asked. "Pippa never even mentioned it to me."

"Would you have let her go?" Cate looked at him.

"Maybe not, if you'd already said no," Ricky replied.

"You always gave in when I said no," Cate reminded him.

"Does it matter now?" Ricky was getting annoyed.

"Maybe it would have made a big difference if I'd let her go to that wedding?" Cate wondered as she took a sip from the glass.

"We'll never know, will we?" Ricky told her as he left her to drown her sorrows again.

He went outside just as Claire was coming out of next door.

"Ricky," she called to him.

"What do you want Claire?" he asked, not wanting to talk to her.

"Have you been told anything else?" Claire wanted to know.

"Why would we when Lee's still free?" Ricky snapped.

"I told you what happened," Claire reminded him.

"Do you know how hard it is, telling the police I have no idea who left Pippa in the woods?" he asked her. "I could have talked to her, got her to believe she was dreaming it."

"How could you be so sure?" Claire asked him. "It was your idea to give her that stuff anyway."

"Stay away from us Claire," he warned her.

Claire watched him drive off, just as Lee was coming out.

"What was wrong with you last night?' Lee complained.

"I was feeling off," Claire used the excuse.

"Not another monthly? I swear you have two every month. You're not pregnant are you?"

"What? You must be joking Lee, you were more into borrowing kids than having your own," she replied.

"I was joking Claire," he grinned. "Don't have that female detective asking you questions when I'm not there," Lee reminded her.

"I can't help it if she keeps coming into the salon," Claire reminded him. "You never know, she might be having some time off. I remember Pippa was all excited about that big celebrity wedding, it's this weekend."

"So it's being televised," Lee joked.

"No, Pippa wanted to be a bridesmaid, I bet she would have won as well, it Cate hadn't been so mean not letting her," Claire replied.

"How do you know Pippa didn't enter?" Lee asked. "Maybe the detective's girl entered and she won? That would get them away for the weekend."

"You wish," Claire laughed as she got into the car.

"Who said I was giving you a lift?" Lee turned serious.

He did remember Cate mentioning it a while ago, how was he supposed to know when it was?

Daisy was trying her dress on after they'd finished their afternoon tea, seeing Rose and her family weren't stuck up at all and Alec noticing how much attention the groom was giving the bride to be that he dare not even look at her for more than a second.

He didn't even know what had come over him. He was left in the dining room with Pete, Jamie and Tony as the ladies went off.

"You both look like each other," Tony laughed as he went to sit on Jamie's lap. "Jamie's gonna be my new big brother, aren't you Jamie," he glanced up as Jamie ruffled his hair.

"You seem very happy about that," Alec told the boy. "Are you going to be a pageboy?"

"Nope, I get to hold the rings," Tony beamed. "Jamie, did Rose tell you how good I was at it?"

"Sure she did sport," Jamie replied. "We're both proud of you."

"Want to play with my race track?" Tony then asked Jamie.

"Tony, don't be rude, we have guests," Pete reminded him.

"Rose will be ages," Tony laughed. "Want to come with us?" he asked Pete then Alec.

"No, you go ahead, I have to call Jake about the final security arrangements for tomorrow," Pete told them. "That's if you don't mind Alec?"

"Sure, lead the way Tony," Alec replied, not wanting to be left on his own, the women were bound to take their time discussing dresses.

Jamie wasn't sure about Alec. Not only did they look alike apart from Alec's beard and their hairstyles but he was sure the detective was looking at Rose a bit more than he should be. No, he had to forget about it, Rose was just being friendly to the whole Hardy family. She had answered all the questions her head bridesmaid had thrown at her and Alec had been paying attention but that was all.

Rose was right, he couldn't pick a fight with every male who lined up to kiss the bride after the wedding tomorrow. Tomorrow, Rose would be all his and she would finally be giving in to him. He'd agreed they would wait for their wedding night and had bought her a very special present of expensive lingerie and matching nightwear made of pure satin and lace. He couldn't wait to see her in it and hoped she'd allow him to take photos of her wearing it.

Jackie was fussing over Daisy's bridesmaid's dress and Tess was trying to stop herself taking over. She wanted to find fault with the mother of the bride but hadn't managed it yet.

"Do I look okay?" Daisy asked Tess then turned to Rose and Jackie.

"You look lovely," Rose smiled. "Tess, can I talk to you a minute?"

Leaving Daisy and Jackie, Rose closed the room door.

"That girl who was killed, I'm sure she was almost chosen to be one of my bridesmaids," she admitted.

"Oh. Her mother never mentioned it," Tess replied.

"Well maybe she wanted to forget about it, under the circumstances," Rose told Tess. "The magazine editor rang Pippa's mother and Pippa hadn't got her permission to enter. Someone else must have signed for her."

"It was probably her cousin, they were very close," Tess revealed.

"Oh. You don't think that was anything to do with what happened?" Rose was horrified. "I mean, maybe Pippa was going to run away because the wedding was getting nearer and she wouldn't be attending."

"Rose, it's not your fault," Tess tried to tell her. "Don't think that. Things were complicated in that family, trust me."

"Well it just occurred to me, when I heard the news, that it was the same girl. Things have been really hectic," Rose admitted. "Tess, if there's anything I can do, please let me know. Will you give the girl's mother my best wishes and tell her I'm so sorry for her loss?"

"Of course I will, though whether she remembers or not," Tess replied.

"When you catch who's responsible, will you let me know when Pippa's funeral is?" Rose asked. "So I can send flowers."

"I will, I promise. We're getting new leads all the time," Tess told her. "Don't blame yourself, we have a pretty good idea what happened. Her cousin wouldn't have let Pippa run away."

"I can't imagine what the family are going through," Rose added. "What about Lisa's family?"

"They're split up, we're doing everything we can to find Lisa and we're keeping her mother updated," Tess replied. wondering why she was discussing the case with Rose.

"Don't say anything to your husband, will ya?" Rose then smiled. "I don't want him thinking bad of me for Pippa being out of the contest."

"He won't and besides, we don't talk much outside of work, we're separated," Tess admitted.

Why was she telling Rose all this? Rose reached out and put her hand on Tess's arm.

"Sorry to hear that Tess. How's Daisy taken it?" Rose sympathised.

"Fairly well, so far," Tess admitted. "We're just keeping up appearances, we both promised we'd see her be your bridesmaid."

"She'll wonder where we've got to," Rose smiled, putting her arm in Tess's.

Tony was leading Alec and Jamie into the large attic that had his race track and train set spread all around. He'd wanted more track but Pete was running out of places to expand so some careful planning had to take place. As they reached the first floor landing and crossing to the attic stairs, Alec had seen Rose and Tess talking, then Rose link her arm with Tess's.

They seemed to be getting on well, maybe it was just him Tess didn't get on with then? Who would have thought Tess would make friends with the bride? He himself couldn't find fault with the would-be groom, Rose's younger brother seemed to idolise him but the way Rose looked at Jamie, he felt slightly jealous.

He had to get any ideas out of his head for tomorrow or he'd be the head of the queue waiting to kiss the bride and would probably get a warning from her new husband. Maybe it would be worth it? After Tony had gone to bed, he bumped into Tess as he was going back downstairs, Jamie telling him to join the party just after seven thirty.

Tess had been to get changed but Daisy hadn't wanted to wait for her and had already gone.

"What did you and Rose Tyler find to talk about?" Alec wanted to know. "Did you let Daisy go down on her own?"

"Stop all the questions Alec," Tess warned him. "We were just talking, mostly about Daisy," she bluffed.

She wasn't going to bother telling him about Pippa almost being a bridesmaid. If she'd been allowed to attend, maybe she wouldn't have got herself killed. Alec wouldn't be interested anyway, it had no bearing on the case now.

"You were the one who didn't want to come," she reminded him.

"We could have set off early tomorrow," Alec huffed. "All the other guests arrive then."

"I told you Alec, it was part of Daisy's prize, don't go spoiling it for her."

He shook his head and followed her downstairs, looking around and seeing people standing in the reception area holding drinks and a few serving staff going around. It made him shiver involuntary, wondering what had brought on the vision of the Cybermen going around electrocuting everyone.

It had been a long time since those monsters had made their escape and nobody had been bothered how they'd disappeared. He'd never been here before in his life so how could he picture the scenario? The other question was, how had he also seen Rose standing in a waitress uniform for just a moment, standing next to a man who look like himself all that time ago. No, he was certain where he'd been that night – on duty and waiting for any reports the Cybermen were going to invade outside London when they'd been put on alert.

The police in London were trying to cope with widespread reports all over the capital as word had got out. He shook the thoughts from his mind when he saw Rose, in a light blue evening dress holding onto Jamie's arm as he was talking to someone. Was she even aware what effect she had on men? More importantly, what effect she had on him and he had no business letting her get to him.

He took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and looked around for Daisy, seeing Tess had found her so he thought he'd catch up with his daughter later. Then Rose, who had got tired of Jamie talking to a friend of Pete's and was walking around called him from behind.

"Hi, glad you could join us," she told him.

Had she thought he'd declined to attend, he wondered.

"I thought this was a small party?" he asked her.

"This is small, compared to one of my mother's usual ones," Rose laughed. "You have a great daughter Alec, she's lovely. Wait until you see her in her dress tomorrow, you'll be really proud of her."

"I'm sure I will," Alec agreed. "You seemed to have lost your fiancé," he nodded to where Jamie was still in conversation.

"Sheesh, he'll be there all night, trust me," Rose smiled from behind her glass as she took a drink. "No-one can talk like he can. He's worse than a friend of mine used to be."

Rose had looked around to see if Mickey had decided to attend, she'd made sure he'd got an invitation to both events. She had told her mother she could at least invite him to the wedding, then it was up to him.

Alec wondered if the man would miss her if she wandered off. Who was he kidding, why would she wander off? Her mother was probably keeping an eye on her.

"Can I ask something?" Rose interrupted his thoughts. "It's just Jamie won't have a lot of people sitting on his side tomorrow. Would ya tell whoever's doing the seating you're on the groom's side? That's if ya don't mind?"

"Sure, I would not mind what side we sit on," Alec replied, hoping Tess would go sit on Rose's side.

"Aw, thanks. Tess told me you're separated, sorry," Rose replied.

"She did?" Alec asked, a bit surprised. "Ah, I saw you both talking earlier. I was on my way to play on your brother's racetrack."

"He roped ya in then?" Rose thought it was amusing. "He gets Jamie every time. He thinks the world of Tony and Tony him, they're already like brothers. Jamie grew up on his own and he lost his parents when he was a teenager. He went to live with relatives and he started being interested in alien stuff. It took his mind off it."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Alec told her. "I also grew up on my own, my parents used to argue a lot, even on holiday. I remember one year, we travelled all the way down to the south-west coast for a camping holiday and I used to hide away under the cliffs. I could never remember the name of the place," he admitted.

"Maybe ya might remember one day," Rose smiled. "Ya might even visit it again."

"Ah, I have to find out who killed that young girl first," Alec replied.

"Yeah, it was sad. I hope ya catch the person Alec," Rose told him. "Ah, looks like I might have got Jamie back? The other bloke must have run out of conversation, it wouldn't have been Jamie who ended it."

"It was nice talking to you Rose, all the best for tomorrow," Alec replied as Jamie joined them.

"There you are sweetheart," Jamie greeted her by kissing her cheek. "Blimey, we look a lot alike. Rose, don't walk off with the wrong one tomorrow will you?"

"No chance," Rose laughed as she looped her free arm in Jamie's. "I was just telling Alec his daughter's lovely, she looks great in her dress."

"Excuse us Alec, Rose owes me a dance. Come on sweetheart," Jamie told her as Alec heard music from another room.

"Bye Alec, enjoy the party," Rose told him as Jamie was about to lead her off. "I hope we can have a dance at the wedding."

Alec watched them walk off, arm in arm and felt even more jealous. How was he going to survive tomorrow? Now, he wished Daisy had never entered that contest and Tess actually agree to let her.

"Something wrong Alec?" Tess asked as she joined him.

"No, why should there be?" Alec replied. "Where's Daisy?"

"Talking to that blonde man over there but she's barking up the wrong tree," Tess was actually smiling.

Chapter 12

Somehow, Alec managed to survive the rest of the evening. Tess was showing off, as he knew she would, given such a large audience.

"Oh, you've just got married then?" he heard her ask someone with a Welsh accent. "My daughter's the head bridesmaid, she's over there," Tess nodded to where Daisy was sitting near the DJ, probably hoping the blonde haired man was going to ask her to dance.

Well he knew that was never going to happen and she'd be upset tomorrow after the wedding. He went to stand at the side of her.

"Come on Daisy, don't waste your time," he urged her.

"Don't know what you mean Dad," she denied.

"Yes, you do. Don't hang around here, go dance," he suggested.

He saw Rose dancing with a group of women now and wondered if he could go steal her away or should he leave it until tomorrow? That was the problem, he'd probably back out tomorrow as well. He knew he would back out of standing in line to kiss the bride or should he give Tess something else to complain about?

"There's no-one to dance with," Daisy reminded him.

"Don't want to dance with me then?" he smiled as the music slowed down a bit.

Daisy rolled her eyes but got up, just to please him.

"You'll find someone more your age to dance with at the wedding," he told her.

"You think so Dad?" Daisy hoped.

"You have a lot to learn Daisy," he smiled back.

"Thanks for bringing me Dad, I guess when I entered, I never really thought I'd get chosen," Daisy admitted as they danced slowly. "I wonder if that poor girl who died entered?"

"I've no idea love, it's not something we would have asked," Alec admitted.

He had a feeling that if Pippa had somehow entered, her mother wouldn't have let her go to it. There was something very strange about Cate Gillespie, like one minute she was saying Pippa was a little angel and the next she wasn't. It was also strange that the Gillespies were making more fuss than Lisa's parents were.

He was glad another division was handling that mainly, since there was no evidence to say Lisa hadn't just gone off somewhere to leave poor Pippa to her fate. Maybe it was no wonder Lisa was hiding after the news. He and Daisy had just gone to sit down again when Tess joined them, Daisy getting up to get more party food.

"I hope you put Daisy right on that man she's been watching?" Tess asked him.

"Of course I did Tess. If he is one of Rose's friends, that will be why he's staying away rather than lead her on," he suggested.

Jamie had finished talking to someone from Torchwood and looked around for Rose, who had seen Daisy and Alec dancing and wished she'd invited some younger people, Daisy must feel out of place. Jake reached her before Jamie did.

"I see you had an audience," Rose smiled.

"Tell me about it," Jake grinned as he saw Jamie approaching. "Be glad it's not Jamie being stared at."

"Who's being stared at?" Jamie asked innocently.

Rose burst out laughing, grabbing hold of him.

"Never mind babe," she laughed, patting his arm. "Poor Daisy's waiting for Jake to dance with her."

"Oh, I get it now," Jamie also laughed.

"Why don't ya go and ask her to dance?" she suggested.

"Me?" Jamie acted surprised, pointing back at himself. "Rose, you know I'm all left feet," he laughed.

"You're a great dancer," Rose encouraged him.

She grabbed hold of him again and dragged him over to where Alec and Daisy were sharing some food, Tess deciding she wasn't going to watch them.

"Hi Daisy," Rose greeted the teenager. "Want to swap partners?"

"Oh, well okay I guess so?" Daisy seemed surprised. "Dad?"

Alec just nodded his head, he was also surprised.

"May I have this dance Daisy?" Jamie then grinned.

They went off to join the others, leaving Alec with nowhere to go.

"Guess that leaves us?" Rose smiled at Alec.

What was she trying to do, Alec wondered as he took her offered hand. Wouldn't her almost husband be getting jealous? Jamie was jealous when he realised Rose meant to dance with Daisy's father. It was bothering him more and more how much they looked alike. He had been joking earlier but he wasn't so sure now.

"So, are you getting nervous now?" Alec was asking Rose as they swayed to the music, Alec now glad it wasn't another slow one.

"Doesn't everyone when their wedding's the next day?" Rose admitted.

"I was more nervous than Tess was, apparently," Alec confessed. "I am not sure if you know but we are almost divorced."

"Oh, sorry," Rose apologised.

"We both promised Daisy we would see her be your bridesmaid," Alec explained, wondering what had made him tell her.

"She seemed really excited when she arrived," Rose smiled. "Oh, if ya need another room, just ask one of the staff."

"It's fine, Daisy and Tess are sharing," Alec assured her. "We did not want to make a fuss over it."

"I promise not to tell my mum," Rose laughed. "Ya should have said though."

"It was of no concern to your family," Alec replied. "Thank you for the dance Rose."

The music stopped and Jamie brought Daisy back to Alec.

"Rose," Jamie went to whisper in her ear. "We should dance with each other the rest of the evening."

"I know. See ya later Daisy, Alec," Rose told them.

Was that the last dance he was going to get with Rose, Alec wondered.

"You look all flustered Dad," Daisy laughed at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he wanted to know.

"Like you wanted to dance with her but didn't expect she would," Daisy teased him.

Alec shrugged his shoulders and tried to ignore the fact that Rose was now dancing with Jamie in the middle of the floor and the DJ had turned a spotlight on them and everyone was watching. Jake was leading the cheering as the couple danced to 'Moonlight Serenade', the DJ having been told to bring some 40's tunes with him as they were Rose's favourites.

Jake often wondered if Jamie knew the real reason she liked them so much, having been told by Rose about her dancing around the Tardis with her first Doctor but Pete had told him Rose had refused to tell Jamie anything at all about her travels. All Jamie knew was that Pete had rescued herself and Jackie after following the Cybermen.

"That was fun," Jamie admitted, then saw everyone was cheering them.

"Ha, admit ya took some keeping up with me," Rose laughed.

"If you let me come to your room later, I'll show you how I can keep up with you, Rose Tyler," he waggled his eyebrows at her.

"Ya know the rules babe, mum will kill ya if she catches ya," Rose laughed even more.

"Ah, speaking of whom, where is she?" he looked nervously around the large room that had been cleared earlier for the event.

"Probably putting Tony to bed," Rose replied. "He looked dead beat the last time I saw him."

"Yeah, poor kid!" Jamie agreed, grabbing two drinks from a tray. "He wanted to stay up late."

"Mum won't have let him, we don't want him falling asleep during the wedding," Rose told him.

"So, are we going to sneak off for half an hour?" Jamie asked hopefully.

"Wait until tomorrow Mister," Rose teased him.

"Aw, come on Rose," Jamie tried to get around her.

"Okay, we'll sneak off to the conservatory, I'll go first," Rose agreed.

Jamie gave her a satisfied grin.

"Right then. Thought at first you wanted another dance with that detective," he tried to joke.

Only it wasn't a joke to him, he had really got jealous because Rose had encouraged him to dance with the teenage daughter of the detective in charge of the Sandbrook case. He was certain she'd done so on purpose. Would they have had another dance if he'd not returned the girl? Had Rose planned it that way?

He noticed her slipping away and waited a few moments to see if she was followed. When Alec remained with Daisy, having restrained himself from getting up to see where Rose was going, Jamie thought he was not being observed as the dancing has resumed but he should have known Alec's eyes were on him.

Alec had a strange feeling coming over him as he saw Jamie heading in the same direction. He took a deep breath and tried to put it out of his mind. He couldn't afford to get tangled up in this if the other man accused him of something and they all got thrown out in the morning by Pete Tyler himself.

Daisy would never talk to him again for ruining the best day of her life so far and Tess would at the very least slap his face and made sure everyone knew what had happened. That would further ruin his already tarnished reputation and he may as well quit now or get a transfer to a quiet backwater town where he could hide away until the press went onto something other than the scandal at Rose Tyler's eve of wedding party.

Once in the conservatory, Jamie surprised that Jackie hadn't followed them, they kissed for a good while then Jamie looked down at Rose as she leaned on his shoulder.

"Not long now love, eh?" Jamie reminded her. "Have you got the shivers?"

"Whatcha think?" Rose replied, trying to look up at him.

"Me too," he laughed. "All those preparations going on in the morning. Still it'll keep your mother busy."

"Yeah and you don't have much to do in the morning so why don't you help her by keeping Tony occupied?" Rose suggested.

"You mean go up to her and offer?" Jamie looked shocked.

"Sheesh, you're not still scared of my mum are ya?" Rose laughed.

"What gives me away?" Jamie admitted. "Why don't you suggest it to her?"

"Chicken," Rose laughed at him. "Come on, before she comes looking for us."

They got back to the party and those who lived in London began to say goodnight to the couple, Jake was staying ready to start early in the morning organising security on the main gate and the early guests and service providers. Then, Daisy went up to Rose to thank her.

"Just do everything in the morning that my mum tells ya to do," Rose advised her. "If ya need anything, just ask one of the staff. Breakfast is from eight in the dining room so ya can please yourselves."

Alec stopped himself from asking is she was going to be present but thought maybe she would have breakfast in her room, to avoid the groom seeing her before the wedding. Why was he going to hang around in the morning until the ceremony began? Maybe he should remain in his room, out of Tess's way? She would be far too busy fussing over Daisy's dress since Jackie Tyler would be fussing over Rose.

He followed Tess and Daisy upstairs, Daisy giving him a hug before following her mother and Alec went around the corner, seeing Jamie leaving what he supposed was Rose's room.

"Ah, goodnight Alec," Jamie grinned, like he'd just be caught.

"Goodnight, I promise not to shave in the morning," Alec replied.

"Yeah, don't want the local vicar getting all confused," Jamie laughed.

Jamie patted Alec's shoulder and continued on to the room he was using until the wedding. Alec went in the other direction, past where Jamie had just been. He was slightly surprised when Rose opened her room door, making her jump that he'd stopped.

"Geez, I thought that was Jamie sneakin' around again," Rose admitted, now wearing a robe.

"Ah, just me," Alec told her. "Goodnight again Rose."

"Does being at a wedding make ya feel uncomfortable?" Rose wanted to know.

Was she trying to get him caught out by her mother or Tess by keeping him talking outside her room?

"It should do," Alec replied truthfully. "Don't let me keep you."

"Aw, it's fine, I'm not really tired. Mum insisted me and Jamie stayed apart, he was a bit annoyed about it," Rose admitted. "Sorry about you and Tess though but she seems a bit 'off'."

Alec thought that was an understatement.

"I was the one who filed for divorce. She was having an affair with another detective sergeant. Everyone knew except me at first," he admitted, though he didn't know why he was telling her.

"Well, you're both still talkin' to each other," Rose smiled. "Ya never know, there could be someone out there for ya."

"I am in no hurry," Alec replied. "You should try and get some sleep Rose, it's your big day tomorrow."

"Yeah. It's funny, when me and Jamie first met, we hit it straight off and we knew we were gonna get married," Rose admitted to him. "Night then Alec, I hope we can have another dance at the wedding?"

"Then I will try not to disappoint you," Alec promised.

Rose went back inside and closed her door, Alec standing there for a moment as one of the maids was passing.

"Are you okay Sir?" she asked him. "Are you lost?"

"Ah, no. I was just on my way to my room," Alec replied, hoping there would be no more questions.

"Well, if I can get you anything, just ask," he was told.

He thought no more of what Rose had just said. It seemed impossible to him there could be someone else out there for him, not now he'd actually met Rose Tyler and she was just hours away from getting married – to his double.

Rose thought she'd never get to sleep and would be feeling tired for the wedding but she knew her mother would be up early to check on her. It had already been decided she had breakfast in her room, it would be chaos enough Jackie had said. Besides, Rose wasn't sure it was a good idea for Jamie to see her, she would be nervous enough as it was.

The next morning, the staff already being given instructions, Rose was sat up in bed with a tray, Jamie had tried to get to see her but had been caught by Jackie, who'd had an idea he'd try something.

"Oi you, whatcha doin' tryin' to get into Rose's room?" she had asked him.

"Ah, Jackie? I was just going to see if she was up yet," he gave the excuse.

"Well she should be. I hope you're on your way to get breakfast? The staff don't have time to mess around ya know? They have enough to do once the caterers arrive," she reminded him.

"Would you tell her I was asking about her?" Jamie called after her as Jackie was about to knock on Rose's door.

"He's just as bad as that alien," Jackie mumbled to herself as she entered the room.

"I was just checkin'" Jackie told Rose. "Jamie was creeping around outside."

That made Rose laugh.

"Anyway, I'd best go and check on Tony," Jackie continued.

"Mum, why don't ya get Jamie to look after him?" Rose suggested.

"Yeah, he's only got to get into his wedding suit I suppose? It'll keep both of them out of my way," Jackie agreed. "The bridesmaids have to be supervised as well."

"Their mother's can see to them," Rose reminded her.

That agreed, Rose was left on her own to wait for her hair and nails doing and helped into her dress. Jackie went off to get Tony to tell him he had to behave for Jamie, Jake had been up early and was organising security and Pete was staying out of the way and waiting for the flowers and buttonholes to arrive.

Tess and Daisy were still downstairs when the other bridesmaids arrived and Daisy was soon chatting away to them about the party last night until they went off to get changed. Jamie was now getting Tony into his suit and they were laughing about him trying to do his tie.

"Are you nervous Jamie?" Tony asked innocently.

"Nah," Jamie laughed.

"Bet Rose is," Tony also started laughing.

Jamie was about to ruffle the boy's hair but thought Jackie may shout at him if he did.

Alec had found a quiet spot to keep out of the way, he had wandered into the conservatory and thought he'd be safe enough for now. He could see the large marquee with the flaps open as tables and chairs were being arranged so the while guests were taking photos, everything could be moved easily. He could also see the red carpet being laid and the flowers being arranged.

He had noticed several floral bouquets in the large entranceway but he didn't expect anyone would see them until the evening reception. He knew Tess had brought several outfits with her, she always did to weddings so as not to wear the same thing twice. He wished he didn't have to stay the evening as well, he would never survive at this rate.

Rose had hoped to have some time to herself but her mother had everything arranged so when the beautician had done her nails and a little makeup, the hairdresser arrived at the same time as her mother. She had decided just to have her hair in a few loose curls at the front and bunched up at the back for the wedding, then she was going to let it down later on.

"Rose, when ya've got your dress on, I'll send the photographer up," Jackie reminded her. "I'll have to see where Pete is and if the flowers have arrived."

"Won't he send them up?" Rose replied.

"Yeah, I don't know if I'm coming or going," Jackie laughed. "At least Jamie's watching Tony for me, I hope they're not in the attic playing with that race track though."

"I hope dad's coming up for some of the photos?" Rose was worried. "I never thought that if I ever got married, that I'd have my dad here."

"I know," Jackie agreed. "I can't imagine how Pete feels about it. I mean that he'd ever have a family and be giving his daughter away. Just think Rose, that if we'd never come here?"

"I'd never have met Jamie, would I?" Rose asked her. "I hope he's got over being jealous now."

"He's not done that for a while has he?" Jackie was concerned.

"I don't think so Mum but having that detective here was a bit of a fluke. I mean I didn't know who Daisy's father was when she won the prize."

"It's not your fault Rose, ya weren't to know," her mother assured her. "Jamie will be too busy to even notice."

"I hope you're right Mum. Can ya get me some coffee before I put my dress on?"

"Oh, I'll go myself and check on your dad," Jackie told her. "I hope he's not feeling left out, he'll have plenty to do later."

"I'm sure he won't Mum," Rose replied, checking her nails were dry and the silver sparkles on them were still in place.

Jackie went down the other stairs nearer the kitchen and bumped into Alec as he was leaving the conservatory.

"Crikey, I thought ya were Jamie then," Jackie laughed as he made her jump. "I was gonna tell him to get a shave."

"Ah, Mrs Tyler. I don't believe he had a beard last night," Alec corrected her.

"Well I'm not a bloomin' detective am I?" Jackie complained. "I don't remember."

Alec thought considering the mother of the bride always had a glass in her hand last night whenever he saw her, it was probably not a surprise.

"I've not seen him since breakfast," Alec told her. "Maybe I could look for him?"

"Would ya? Just go upstairs, then up the attic stairs, they're probably playing on Tony's race track," Jackie replied. "Tell Jamie there's only an hour and I want Tony with his dad so he can see if he's still presentable. If ya want a buttonhole, they'll be in the kitchen."

"Thank you. I will go find them both for you," Alec assured her.

Jackie went off, satisfied that at least with Alec being a detective, he'd find who he was looking for easily enough. She went into the kitchen, Pete sat drinking tea so he wouldn't get too stressed with everyone seeing him as the father of the bride.

"Can ya send Rose's flowers up?" Jackie asked him as she leaned on his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "Have the other buttonholes been sent to the marquee?"

She noticed there were only a few left in a box.

"Yeah, Jake took them out, some people are early, taking photos of each other probably," Pete told her. "How's Rose?"

"About to get her dress on," Jackie laughed as one of the maids made coffee for Rose. "Daisy's father's gone to get Jamie and Tony, so they need some buttonholes."

Rose was getting impatient for some coffee so she opened her room door just as Alec was looking for the attic stairs.

"Hi, forgotten something?" Rose smiled at him.

"Ah, I was sent by your mother to find your soon to be husband and your brother," he smiled back. "You look very nice by the way."

"Oh, I'm not getting married in what I'm wearing," Rose teased him.

"I most certainly hope not," Alec corrected himself. "That was not what I meant."

"Gotcha," Rose laughed. "End of the corridor, that's where the attic stairs are, that's where they'll be."

"Thank you Rose. I will see you at the wedding," Alec replied.

He heard footsteps so he went to where Rose had pointed out. He thought it would be her mother but it was Pete as they passed each other, Pete carrying the wedding bouquet.

As Alec went up towards the attic, he thought at least he had seen Rose before her intended husband had on their wedding day. If he wasn't very careful, he may give himself away and spoil not only her day but risk the wrath of Jackie Tyler. He had to keep telling himself Rose was out of bounds but he'd not been able to stop thinking about her since he had arrived here yesterday.

Chapter 13

Pete was a bit surprised seeing Alec Hardy walking away from Rose's room but he himself had used the other stairs. He thought he'd best not ask Rose if she had just seen him so he knocked on her door.

"Dad. I wondered where my flowers had got to," Rose greeted him.

"Most of the guests have arrived I think," Pete replied as he put her mug of coffee down. "It's a nice day out there," he pointed to the window with the curtains still closed.

"I'm not taking any chances there are any photographers climbing trees," Rose laughed. "They could have bypassed Jake's security team."

"He's doubled it, don't worry," Pete tried to assure her. "I'd worry more about the guests selling photos to the magazines."

"Thanks Dad," Rose laughed nervously.

"I think your mother's looking for Tony and Jamie," Pete told her, to see if she had noticed the detective passing by.

"They'll be in Tony's play room," Rose replied. "I suggested to mum that Jamie could keep Tony occupied."

"Ah. Did you tell that to Alec Hardy? He was just heading that way," Pete asked her.

"Yeah, I was out looking to see where you were with my flowers and some coffee," Rose had to admit.

"Well for goodness sake Rose, don't tell that to Jamie," Pete warned her. "You know how jealous he gets. Now I know why he hates Mickey so much."

"What?" Rose stopped smelling her bouquet.

"Come on Rose, you must have known?" Pete was surprised.

"I knew they hated each other Dad but not why. Just because I used to go out with Mickey, when I was nineteen?" Rose was even more surprised. "I didn't think Jamie would go that far?"

"Just you be careful Rose," Pete warned her. "Yes, I know he can be over-protective sometimes but there's a difference between defending you and picking a fight with a bloke over it."

"He's not done that for a long time Dad," Rose reminded him.

"I know, especially if it's with a Torchwood contractor," Pete tried to joke. "Well, do you want the father of the bride talk now or when I come back to escort you downstairs?"

"I thought we'd just had it?" Rose smiled.

"I know how much you love Jamie, I remember when you too first met," Pete replied. "I also know how Tony looks up to him. He's done nothing but go on about Jamie being his big brother for real."

"I know," Rose agreed. "Well, I'd better start getting changed."

She didn't want to tell him of the conversation she'd just had with Alec Hardy. Why had she joked about it so easily to him anyway? She should have just sent him to where Jamie and Tony were, not get involved in conversation with him. What was it about the detective?

Alec had gone up the attic staircase, hearing Tony saying he was going to beat Jamie on this lap and Jamie saying they had to go downstairs soon.

"Your mum will be looking for you," Jamie was laughing.

"Ah but Jamie, the wedding doesn't start for ages," Tony had complained.

"You have to get ready," Jamie was just reminding him as Alec walked in.

"That's why I'm here," Alec spoke up, making Jamie turn around and forget about the race.

"Right. I told you Tony," Jamie replied as Tony's car passed the winning line and he was jumping up and down.

"I won!" Tony was cheering.

"Hey, I got distracted," Jamie then complained. "Some timing you have Alec."

"I was not aware it was a contest," Alec told him. "Jackie sent me to get the both of you."

"Yeah, never shoot the messenger," Jamie then grinned. "Come on Tony, I'll help you get dressed. Have you seen Rose?" he then asked Alec.

"Very briefly and no, she had not got changed," Alec admitted.

Jamie was relieved to hear that, he didn't want anyone seeing her in her wedding dress until she appeared in the grand marquee Jackie had hired for the occasion. He hadn't known the reason why she had chosen that as opposed to having the ceremony in the mansion until earlier, when it had been chaos.

"Hey, Alec," Jamie called after him as Alec went to his room to change into his best suit. "Is your daughter getting nervous?"

"I've not seen her since breakfast, her mother is seeing to her dress," Alec replied.

"I bet it was a bit of a shock when she won?" Jamie asked him.

"Yes, she's never won anything before," Alec admitted.

"I would have thought a wedding would be the last place you'd want to be? I mean you and your wife don't exactly look happy to be here?" Jamie had observed.

"I could take offence to that but you're right, about myself anyway. I promised Daisy we would both be here for her," Alec replied.

"Hey, sorry pal," Jamie patted Alec on his shoulder.

"It's fine, believe me. No, I'm afraid Tess doesn't look at me the way Rose looks at you," Alec admitted. "You are a very lucky man."

"I know," Jamie laughed. "I'd best go see to Tony then."

Alec continued to his room and Jamie joined Tony.

"He looks like you," Tony told him.

"I know Tony, hope Rose doesn't get us mixed up!" Jamie tried to shrug it off.

Tony started laughing.

"Yeah, mum would get so annoyed."

Jamie tried to see the funny side but failed so he just helped Tony get into his suit as the young boy wanted to mess around.

"Your mother won't be happy if we're late," Jamie warned him.

"Aw, Rose will be late, dad said so," Tony replied.

"Did he?" Jamie asked.

"Yeah, dad said she's supposed to be late," Tony grinned.

"I hope she's not too late then," Jamie was getting worried as he'd not thought Rose would go with the tradition.

Then he thought she maybe would, to get him worried. He certainly hoped that neither Alec Hardy nor Mickey Smith would be in the line to kiss the bride, not that Mickey Smith had been sent an invitation as far as he knew anyway. Jackie wouldn't do that to him, would she?

He wasn't so sure though, they all went back a long way, would Jackie think it was being cruel or kind not to include him on the guest list? He'd just gone with the list he and Rose had come up with and left it with Jackie to get the invitations printed. He dreaded to think of the postage costs.

He'd been surprised that Pete had insisted on paying for everything, including the honeymoon, which Rose knew nothing of where they were going. He'd thought a nice ten day romantic cruise would do just the job, a couples only one that departed from Palma, then on their return, five nights in a holiday resort on the island of Majorca.

He'd even arranged a honeymoon suite but had insisted to Pete that he paid for that. Pete had just smiled and agreed whatever Rose wanted extra, Jamie was responsible for, not that Rose wouldn't pay for some things herself. Jamie now had to learn that Rose could be very independent, ever since she'd stopped working to plan the wedding. He suspected she still got a generous allowance from her stepfather or Torchwood were still paying her.

Alec had got changed and had made his way downstairs and gone into the kitchen to grab a cup of tea before the event. Jake had gone in for a break and was sat at the kitchen table.

"Just checking if you're Jamie or Alec," Jake grinned as Alec sat down, the buttonholes box still there. "Best get a flower, trust Rose to have picked roses and not red carnations," he laughed.

"Yes, very astute of her," Alec agreed, getting one from the box along with a pin.

"Did she look nervous at breakfast?" Jake asked, since he'd had his earlier.

"Ah, she was not present," Alec told him. "I expect she had hers in her room?"

"Yeah, that would have been her mother's idea," Jamie nodded as he joined them after handing Tony to his mother. "So we didn't see each other. Jackie thought I was trying to sneak in Rose's room last night. I was only saying goodnight to her."

Alec just bet he was.

"She didn't catch us in the conservatory though," Jamie then laughed.

Alec remembered only too well how things had been when he and Tess had got married. Tess hadn't gone for all that last minute sneaking around.

"You did well to stay away then," Alec replied. "I think I will check where my daughter is."

"Yeah, she's a great kid Alec, bet she's full of nerves now it's nearly time though," Jamie wondered.

"If her mother is fussing over her, then yes," Alec had to agree. "She will be ten time worse."

"You should have seen Tony when I handed him to Jackie," Jamie grinned as Jake got up.

Alec got up as well to see how Tess and Daisy were getting on but they were just coming downstairs, the other bridesmaids behind them.

"Dad, how do I look?" Daisy asked him, her hair now up loosely.

"You look perfect," Alec smiled, getting his phone out to take a photo.

"I hope you brought a proper camera?" Tess asked him as the others passed them to sit down without ruining their dresses.

Alec went in his pocket and brought a compact camera out.

"Yes, the batteries are fresh and I have spares," he answered. "It's also a new storage card. Stand right there Daisy while I take a few photos."

Jackie came out of one of the other room and seeing Jamie coming out of the kitchen, grabbed hold of him.

"Look after Tony while I go check on Rose," she told him, Jamie thinking he'd best do as she said. "I'll send Pete down and you can all go out to the marquee, I don't want you seeing Rose."

"What about the bridesmaids?" Tess wanted to know.

"They're supposed to wait here for Rose coming down. Her father will then escort her to the marquee and they follow," Jackie replied, Alec thinking she had it well organised, "Jamie, keep Tony with you and take him to sit at the front."

"Anything I can do to help?" Alec asked her.

"Yeah, can ya watch Tony when Rose goes to join Jamie?" Jackie asked him.

"Mum, I want to stay with Jamie," Tony complained.

"Jamie's going to be busy," Jackie told him. "Jake will tell ya when to step up with the rings."

Jackie went off to see to Rose, Jamie was stubbing his toe on the wooden floor of the hallway and Jake put his hand on Tony's shoulder.

"Don't worry mate, just remember what we practised," Jake advised the boy.

"I won't drop the rings Jake, honest," Tony promised.

"You'll be fine Tony," Alec agreed. "Come on then, we should get going."

Alec followed the others to the marquee and Jake led them past the guests, who were taking their seats after being asked whose side they were on. He found himself on the front row on Jamie's side but he wasn't going to insist he sat on Rose's side, no doubt all the chairs were reserved or Jackie was evening out the number of guests.

He supposed Jake was going to be Jamie's best man, though he knew nothing on the man's family. Jake came over to talk to him, glad that Alec was on the end.

"I'll bring Tony over to you when Rose appears in the entrance," he told Alec.

Alec nodded and put his specs on to read the order of the wedding ceremony. He saw Rose was walking down the aisle to a popular wedding related song, then the couple had their speeches they were giving each other. After that, they would make their vows if no-one spoke up to object to the marriage and they would finally be declared husband and wife.

After the register had been signed, Alec noticing a decorated screen in the corner, everyone would stand while he expected everyone would be throwing wedding confetti as the couple walked by, to another popular wedding song and the guests following the procession of the bridesmaids carrying Rose's dress.

He couldn't find fault with it, at least the guests didn't have to sing and the whole thing wouldn't take that long. He supposed some weddings did go on a bit, mostly for show but it didn't seem that Rose wanted to show off that much.

Pete had gone downstairs to wait for Rose as her mother helped her finish off putting a necklace on that Jamie had bought her, which was her 'something new'. She had borrowed a silver bracelet of her mother's, she had blue and flowers in her garters that were holding her stockings up she had bought for the wedding but she'd had trouble with something old.

"Rose, come on, we don't have time for this," Jackie was telling her as the time was drawing near.

"Mum, I need something old, it's tradition here as well as back home," Rose reminded her.

"I know, I got married a few years ago, don't forget," Jackie laughed.

"Well, what did you have that was old then?" Rose wanted to know, not being able to remember.

She thought she'd have trouble remembering her own name when the time came at this rate.

"Got it," Jackie declared as she went off, leaving Rose to worry even more.

"I found this in one of the drawers, it must have got left," Jackie explained when she came back with a small silky purse with a satin ribbon to fasten on a wrist. "It looks old to me."

"Geez Mum, it must have been one of hers," Rose put her hand over her mouth as Jackie went to tie it on her other wrist.

She didn't have time to argue as there was a tap on the door.

"Come on you two, the photographer wants some poses before you go downstairs Rose," Pete announced. "Then he'll wait as you walk downstairs, where his colleague will be starting the video recorder."

Rose thought that had to be her mother's idea, to keep a visual record. Then Pete saw what his wife had been doing.

"Jaks, where did you find that?" he pointed to Rose's wrist.

"In one of the drawers. Sorry Pete, I should've told ya," Jackie replied.

"No, it's fine. don't worry about it," Pete assured her.

"Dad, I can take it off," Rose was now worried over it.

"No love, you wear it," he insisted. "It had been given to the other Jackie by a great aunt, when…" he trailed off.

"I'm so sorry Pete," Jackie went to him and hugged him.

"It's the past, there's nothing I can do about it. You wear it Rose," he still insisted. "I know you two didn't hit it off that night. She came back inside, before you and complained about you speaking out of place. She never said what about though."

"Pete, we can talk about this later," Jackie told him as she let go. "We have to get going if ya want that film doing."

"Mum, leave the photos and do them at the back of the marquee before I go down the aisle," Rose suggested.

"I'll tell him, see you in the marquee," Jackie replied, trying to give her a hug. "You look amazing sweetheart, your real dad would be so proud of you. I'm glad you got to see him that one more time."

"What did she mean by that?" Pete wanted to know.

"The first Doctor, he took me back to the day my real dad died. I saved him but things started going wrong so he had to sacrifice himself to get things back on track," Rose admitted, giving him the short version.

"I see then?" Pete replied. "Rose, it would be my pleasure to escort you downstairs and into the marquee."

"Thanks Dad," Rose smiled back at him. "You're like him in so many ways, I sometimes wish I'd met ya sooner and my mum had met you when you first lost the other Jackie. Ya wanna know what she had against me?" she asked him.

"Later Rose, whatever it was, she would have taken it the wrong way, knowing her." Pete told her. "I don't blame you, she was getting very bitter towards the end but she didn't deserve to die like that."

"I know Dad, I wish we'd got there sooner," Rose replied. putting her arm in his.

"Well, this is it. Are you going to be Rose Smith or Rose Tyler-Smith?"

Rose thought that was a very good question. She hadn't yet decided and would see how she thought about it when it came to signing the marriage certificate. Trying to walk downstairs and lifting her dress at the back, she tried not to get nervous as the bridesmaids took hold of her dress for her, Daisy taking the centre, one at either side and the youngest in front with a basket of rose petals Jackie had ordered with the rest of the flowers.

Some guests had gone outside the marquee to get photos of Rose approaching it and Rose began smiling and stopping to pose for a few moments as the guests went back inside. There was a space at the back for her to compose herself out of view, Jackie waiting for her. She just had a few moments as the photographer got a few shots of her preparing herself, trying not to let it bother her.

She knew it was one of her mother's daft ideas to embarrass her later on. Pete took her arm and patted her hand.

"Well, everyone's waiting for you Rose," he reminded her.

Rose glanced down the dozen or so aisles on either side, seeing Jamie standing with Jake after Jake had seen her arrive at the back. Jake had sent Tony to sit with Alec, Tess had also sat next to Tony, leaning over to ask why the boy was there as they waited.

"I promised I would look after him," Alec told her behind Tony, who wanted to look for his sister.

"She's here!" Tony announced loudly as he caught sight of her walking with Pete.

Everyone stood up as Rose approached the front, Alec included but he had a large lump in his throat. Why hadn't he taken any notice of her before now? He'd not had any interest prior to Daisy being chosen to be a bridesmaid so why had he got any now?

If he admitted it, he was totally jealous of the man she was now getting married to. To make things worse, Jamie had stepped forward to greet Rose and took her hand and for a brief moment, Rose looked his way, smiling as she did so. Was the smile for him or the groom?

Of course it wasn't for him, he told himself as everyone was seated and the music died down. Why would it be? She was just being polite yesterday and this morning, she looked totally in love with the man she was standing next to as she was giving her little speech.

Rose had turned towards Jamie, him taking both her hands.

"Jamie, before I met you, I was sad because I'd lost a friend and I went away to try to forget and buried myself in training. Then on my first day at work, there you were and I didn't feel alone any more. You more than filled the gap that I thought would never close. I love you so much Jamie."

Alec felt like rushing out but Tony had sat on his lap without him noticing, the boy probably wanting to get to the couple standing there. Jake had noticed and thought if Alec didn't pay attention, the boy would be rushing forward before he was given the small cushion with the rings on.

Had he noticed Alec looked jealous earlier in the kitchen? This was turning out to be a jealousy match between the two men, something was going to give before the day was out, he was sure of it. As Jamie told Rose how he felt, Jake then picked up the cushion and Alec nudged Tony forward as the local vicar began the ceremony.

Now, Jake was just waiting for Alec to stand up and oppose the union but he saw the look on Alec's face when Rose was asked if she took Jamie to be her husband and she answered with an enthusiastic "Yes." Jake was certain Alec was biting his tongue and forcing himself to stay quiet.

Jake thought he'd have to keep an eye on the detective later on and in the evening, it was just a shame he himself wouldn't be there in the morning when Alec left. Alec had noticed Jake was moving towards him and got Tony to stand up, not that it took much effort on Tony's part. He'd heard the boy going on about Jamie becoming his big brother and idolised him.

Before he knew it, the vicar had declared Rose and Jamie husband and wife and everyone stood up to clap as more music began to play when they went to sign the register.

"What's it to be eh?" Jamie was teasing Rose as she signed first, Pete being there to sign for her.

"Are you not going to be Mrs Rose Smith?" the vicar asked cautiously.

"Yeah but I might use both names sometimes," Rose decided.

"Trust you," Jake was joking as Jamie signed.

That over with, they emerged from behind the screen and everyone stood again, both phone and camera lights flashing.

"Are you taking photos or not?" Tess was asking Alec as he was just standing there. "Daisy will be disappointed if you don't."

Alec got the camera out of his pocket and Tess grabbed it from him, turning it on as the bridesmaids took hold of Rose's dress again.

"Doesn't Daisy look lovely?" Tess was asking him.

"What? Yes, of course she does," he agreed, Tess glaring at him.

Tess swore that if Alec hadn't told her he'd not been keen attending the wedding, that he was miles away and daydreaming about the bride. She wished him good look with that as the happy couple were about to pass by them but they stopped to kiss so everyone could capture them with their various cameras.

Chapter 14

Alec tried not to take any notice and just let Tess take all the photos she wanted, seeing she was focusing more on Daisy and the other bridesmaids, who were giggling to themselves as Jamie decided enough kissing for the guests to take photos of.

Jamie made the signal that they were moving and kissed the back of Rose's left hand then showed her wedding ring off and everyone applauded as they carried on down the short aisle of the marquee. The plan was that everyone moved outside, where the photographer would be taking photos of the happy couple before others were allowed nearer.

Rose had picked out the places she wanted the photos to be taken, like the fountain and a weeping willow tree. She couldn't tell Jamie that the tree reminded her of those on a planet she'd been to with The Doctor. Pete had advised her against a lot of things that could make Jamie even more jealous. They were having some taken getting the whole house in and once finished on their own, others would join them.

Jackie had figured that would give the catering staff more than enough time to move the chairs and get the tables in and the food from the kitchen. She saw Tony was still clinging to Alec, confused that his sister was kissing his best friend, who was now his big brother.

"Alec, I want to go to Jamie," the boy looked at him.

"Just hold on until they get outside," Alec told him. "We'll find your mum when we get out."

Jackie had decided to trust the detective to look after her son while she went to remind the catering manager of what had been required.

"Yes Mrs Tyler, it's all in hand," he insisted.

Satisfied, she looked around for Tony and saw he was with Pete. Tony had plenty to tell his dad and Alec was relieved of looking after the boy.

"Alec's cool Dad," Tony was telling Pete.

Pete smiled at his young son, since Tony said that Jamie was cool. Was it the fact the two men looked like each other? He had thought Jamie was a good influence on Tony, someone else for the boy to look up to. He looked over at the crowd of guests watching the photographer arranging Rose's dress on the grass by a tree and the bridesmaids looking in awe of her.

He had certainly been blessed the day Rose had come back to this world. Once Mickey had explained to him how he was Rose's father in another world, he'd begun to understand why she had taken to him and he might never see her again.

Alec was trying to avoid watching Jamie fussing over Rose, looking relaxed and smiling as her dress was being arranged and leaning back against the tree.

"Alec, are you taking notice of your daughter?" Tess asked him as Daisy was waving at them while she waited. "She's going to be in most of the photos that will no doubt be a four page spread in all the glossy magazines."

"Do I detect a hint of self-satisfaction?" he raised his eyebrows to her. "Daisy getting her photo taken with a celebrity?"

"Stop it Alec," Tess told him. "Why shouldn't she? She won the chance fair and square, she was picked out from millions of entries."

"So when she entered, you had already decided to give your permission, just so you could attend?" he asked her.

"What's wrong with that?" Tess wanted to know as the way was clear for her to take another photograph. "It's a day Daisy won't forget. She won't get another chance like this."

Alec shook his head, Tess trying to get Daisy's attention. He was surprised she'd not gone to stand next to the photographer. People were standing around talking and drinks were being served while he supposed the marquee was being readied.

Would he dare ask Rose to dance later or join the long queue to kiss the bride? He doubted he'd go for the last one, her new husband had already looked daggers at him. He had to attended the formal reception later that evening, in the house as well as the one that would start shortly.

"Haven't you taken any photos on your phone?" Tess was asking him.

"Why? Haven't you taken enough?" Alec replied.

Tess ignored him as everyone followed the wedding party down towards the fountain, Alec hanging back. He would hardly be missed, especially by Tess. Everyone was calling Rose's name while her dress was being arranged and she kept looking forward and waving. He could have sworn she waved at him but it was probably aimed at someone in front of him.

Why would she single him out, there was a big queue as everyone else got the message, those who had been talking and taking advantage of the alcohol already being served. He didn't plan on drinking much anyway, his doctor had advised him to cut it out after he'd been to see him.

He thought the case was just getting to him but it could be more, so he'd been warned. He'd said nothing to Tess though, she wouldn't be bothered anyway. As long as he was careful, no-one else would find out but he was thinking of getting a transfer to somewhere a bit quieter.

Before he knew it, everyone was cheering and clicking away on their cameras as the newlyweds made their way to the large marquee for the reception. They were holding hands and Jamie was waving and mock saluting and Rose was saying something Alec couldn't quite make out as they passed him.

Daisy looked happy, with a big smile on her face. He had to commend Rose's choice in bridesmaid dresses. His phone was in his hand so he quickly activated the camera and managed to take a few shots. By the time he waited in line to enter the marquee once again, the wedding party were sat at a large decorated table, waiting for the bride and groom, who were greeting their guests and accepting presents at a table by the entrance, Jake standing by.

Alec knew Tess had already handed her present to them the night before so he bypassed the table and looked around for Tess, since Daisy was sitting with the other bridesmaids. Tess was at a table with another couple and since there were name cards everywhere, he assumed he had to go and sit with them.

"Alec," Tess called him over. "You took your time."

"There was a crowd outside," he made the excuse. "You did already hand the wedding present over to them?"

"Yes, of course I did," Tess snapped at him.

Jackie was watching Rose and Jamie, Tony wanting to go to them.

"They'll be here soon," Pete told the boy.

"Is Jamie really my brother now?" Tony wanted to know.

"Yes, he is," Pete laughed. "Though really, he's your brother-in-law," he tried to explain.

"Don't confuse him Pete," Jackie told him. "What's he gonna say when Rose and Jamie have kids?"

"What do you mean Mum?" Tony asked as he tried to sit on her lap.

"Never you mind," she replied as Rose and Jamie finally finished greeting everyone.

"I didn't see Daisy's parents," Rose was telling Jamie.

"They went straight in," Jake told her. "I expect they wanted to leave time for other guests? Ya didn't put 'em on the same table," he then laughed when he saw Alec looking around and Tess was talking to the other woman at the same table.

"No, it must have been mum's idea," Rose replied. "How was she to know before they arrived? I expect she put them there to be near Daisy?"

"Come on Rose," Jamie reminding her, wondering why Jake brought up the subject in the first place.

Everywhere he'd looked before and during the wedding ceremony, there was the detective. First he was looking after Tony then later, he was watching the photos being taking. He'd noticed the detective was trying to look disinterested but he'd been looking just the same.

Pete called for everyone's attention by tapping a knife against a glass of champagne that had just been placed there. He did his father of the bride speech, saying how proud of Rose he was and how much she had given him since they'd first met.

He was also full of praise for Jamie, who had captured Rose's heart since the day she'd returned from her studies. Then Jake, as Jamie's best man made his speech and finally, Jamie got up to speak.

"Rose, the day you walked into my department and I realised you weren't my new assistant," he grinned, stopping as everyone laughed.

He went on to say how he'd felt about her, making Alec more and more uncomfortable and he'd no idea why. Rose had just got married and he'd only met her yesterday, though all the hype going on about it months before had been hard to avoid, especially from Daisy when she'd found out she'd won.

He thought about sneaking out later when everyone got up to dance, Tess probably wouldn't even notice but that was about to be tested.

"Don't you think about sneaking off," Tess told him as people were making their way to the food tables.

"How long does this thing go on for?" Alec wanted to know.

"I'd say it's only just got started," Tess replied sarcastically, just to annoy him. "At least try to look like you're enjoying yourself Alec. Are you going to join the queue to kiss the bride or dance with her?"

Alec just ignored her and took a fancy paper plate and a serviette from the pile at the side and looked at the various pastries and delicate sandwiches neatly arranged on large silver trays. He'd been warned that there was going to be a proper evening dinner later on for those who had been invited to stay behind or those who weren't able to attend the main event.

He got what he wanted, having put a few things on his plate and a small piece of cake then he went to sit down. Daisy caught him on his way back to his table.

"Dad, isn't this great?" Daisy beamed at him. "Did you and mum get plenty of photos of me with Rose?"

"I'm sure your mother managed to get more than I did," he tried to assure her. "Don't eat too much now, there's a big dinner party tonight."

"Aw, I'll recover by then Dad," Daisy laughed. "You're not taking any chances though."

"I have enough here," he replied, thinking she was picking on him again. "Are you enjoying yourself so far?"

"Of course I am Dad," she told him. "I won't ever forget this. I'm going to ask Rose if I can stay friends with her afterwards. Do you think she'll agree?"

"I don't see why not," he replied, looking for the bride and seeing her talking to a dark skinned man with close cropped hair.

It didn't look like they were just talking though and the groom was taking no notice so he bypassed his table and got closer.

Mickey had decided the least he could do was attend the reception, even if he couldn't bring himself to watch the wedding ceremony. He'd been tracked down at Rose's insistence and sent an invitation.

"I didn't think ya were gonna come Mickey," Rose had been telling him, unaware Alec was watching them.

"I came just for you Rose, I owed you that much," Mickey replied. "The papers have been full of your wedding the last few months, I could hardly get away from it."

"Why did ya leave Torchwood Mickey? Ya could have taken any job there," Rose asked him.

"I'm not saying anything Rose, it's just the way it had to be," Mickey told her. "I wish you all the best, I'll not stay long."

Alec had found himself getting closer and was now worried whoever it was talking to Rose was upsetting her.

"Is everything okay Rose?" he had to ask her.

"Yeah Alec, it's fine, thanks," Rose assured him.

"Crikey Rose, he could be Jamie's twin," Mickey stared at Alec. "Oh, aren't you that detective from that case where a young girl died?"

"So you watch the news?" Alec pointed out. "Sure you are okay?" he asked Rose again.

"Hey Rose, what's he doin' here?" Mickey wanted to know.

"Oh, his daughter's one of my bridesmaids," Rose laughed. "I mean she was picked before that case even came up."

"I will leave you then," Alec told her, seeing Jamie approaching.

Rose saw him as well and thought she'd be better asking Alec to stay but it wouldn't go down well with Jamie. Just Mickey being there was going to be bad enough.

"Rose, what's he doing here?" Jamie indicated to Mickey, then looked at Alec. "We don't need you here Alec, this is between us."

"Jamie, don't be so rude," Rose told him. "He didn't know who Mickey was and came to see if I was okay."

"Of course he did," Jamie scowled. "Well thank you for coming to Rose's aid but I can sort this out."

Alec thought that was the only apology he was going to get out of Rose's new husband. When Alec had gone off, Jamie turned on Mickey and Rose was looking for Jake to come and break them up.

"Well, what are you doing here?" Jamie asked Mickey again. "Rose, did your mother invite him on purpose?"

"Stop it Jamie, I put him on the guest list," Rose admitted. "What is it with you two?"

Jake had been checking on his security men but Alec spotted him and tapped him on the shoulder.

"You should check on Rose," he told Jake quietly.

"Why, what's going on?" Jake wanted to know, looking around.

"She was talking to someone called Mickey, until Jamie came along," Alec replied.

"I'll sort it out, can't even get a day off from those two," Jake replied. "I mean Jamie and Mickey," he then grinned.

"You know of him then?" Alec raised his eyebrows.

"They have history," Jake laughed.

"An old boyfriend?" Alec wondered.

"From a very long time ago," Jake admitted. "They never got on."

"Why am I not surprised?" Alec replied as Jake went off.

Pete had noticed Alec walking off and looked for Rose, wondering why the detective was going in the opposite direction to where he had been seated. What was going on? He'd seen the detective walk away from Rose's room earlier and she'd admitted talking to him. Then he spotted her and saw Mickey was there.

He wondered whose idea it had been to invite Rose's old boyfriend, when it was inevitable he and Jamie would fall out. Seeing Jackie was busy, he went towards them, in time to see Jamie pushing Mickey away.

"You're not welcome here Mickey," Jamie was telling him.

"Stop it Jamie, I wanted him here," Rose was trying to tell her new husband.

"You never said anything about inviting him Rose," Jamie reminded her.

"I knew ya'd get mad if I had told ya," Rose replied. "Just leave him Jamie."

"I'll leave," Mickey insisted. "Just for your sake, not his."

"Have said hello to my mum yet?" Rose asked him. "She'll be mad if she finds out ya were here and ya didn't speak to her."

"Can't think why," Jamie told her in a low voice. "Oh great, here come Pete and Jake. Now see what you've done by inviting Mickey, Rose."

"What's going on?" Pete asked before Jake got the chance.

"Mickey was just leaving," Jamie hinted. "Weren't you?"

"Mickey, who invited you?" Pete wanted to know.

"I did Dad, I wanted him here," Rose admitted.

"How did ya even find him?" Jake wanted to know.

"Never mind that Jake," Pete told him. "Jamie, if Rose wants him here, he can stay. He's her oldest friend, remember?"

"Doesn't mean I have to like it," Jamie replied. "Fine, come on Rose, get some food."

Pete followed them before Jackie noticed anything, leaving Jake and Mickey.

"You don't think I should have come here either?" Mickey asked him.

"It's good to see ya though but ya were riskin' it a bit," Jake grinned.

"How could I let Rose down on her wedding day?" Mickey replied.

"Well just stay out of Jamie's way, he'll not change his mind about ya being here," Jake warned him.

"I know. So, what's that detective doing here?" Mickey asked.

"Causing more trouble with Jamie, what ya think?" Jake laughed as he patted Mickey on the shoulder. "Things never change mate."

"You mean Jamie's jealous because the detective could be another twin?" Mickey wondered.

"What do you think?" Jake replied. "Alec's daughter won a competition to be one of Rose's bridesmaids and better still, the chief bridesmaid. Part of the prize was she got to stay here for two nights, along with her parents but their just about divorced."

"So Jamie's jealous of him as well?" Mickey asked again.

"Hey mate, he's almost started a few fights with any bloke who looks or talks to her," Jake admitted. "Good thing Alec's in the police," he laughed.

Rose and Jamie were at the food table, most of the guests had already got theirs, a few stragglers plus some who had gone back for more just in front of them.

"Really Rose, why did you even invite Mickey the idiot?" Jamie still wanted to know.

"I felt I had to," Rose replied as Jamie handed her a plate.

"You should have warned me love," he told her. "Why was Alec leaving?"

"He saw me and Mickey and didn't know who I was talkin' to," Rose admitted. "Leave it Jamie, he was just making sure I was okay."

"Of course he was," Jamie muttered to himself.

Alec was watching them after he sat down again.

"What were you doing talking to Rose?" Tess wanted to know.

"Oh, you both know her?" the woman opposite wanted to know. "I thought it was just you."

"We only met her recently," Tess replied. "Our daughter is one of her bridesmaids."

"You must both be proud of her then?" Tess was asked.

"Oh yes, she was very happy about being chosen," Tess told the woman.

When everyone had eaten, Pete got up again.

"If I could have your attention, I have some greetings to read out from those who couldn't be with us today, though some guests did arrive eventually," he told everyone, Rose knowing he meant Mickey. "There are a lot of cards still to be opened, probably from Rose's fans," he laughed. "I'm sure she'll attend to them after the honeymoon."

Rose thought was he implying she was going to leave them unopened? No-one had even mentioned any had arrived but she had been in her room all morning.

"Should I be jealous you have so many fans?" Jamie whispered to her.

"Aw don't worry," Rose laughed. "Your name will be on the cards as well. Mum, why didn't ya mention it?"

"I didn't know ya'd not been told they were brought by the post office in sacks, did I?" Jackie defended herself.

"Did ya say sacks?" Rose was surprised as Pete carried on reading a few she did know about.

"Shush Rose while your dad reads these out," Jackie urged her.

That was Jackie's way of saying don't blame her for putting out to magazines she was getting married. In the last few months, Rose's photo had been everywhere, not that Rose would have noticed.

"Well, now that's all over with," Pete laughed as he took his reading glasses off. "I see the DJ is ready to start so if everyone will remain where they are, Rose and Jamie will lead the dancing."

Rose looked towards him.

"Was this your idea?" she laughed.

"It's tradition love," he grinned back at her, holding out his hand to help her up.

Rose noticed the marquee had been extended so there was room to dance and some flooring put down. Jamie surprised her by going up to the DJ to make sure the right song was about to be played. Alec was watching, hoping Tess wasn't going to insist they danced together. He would however make an exception should Daisy come over for him to dance with her.

As 'When I fall in love' by Nat 'King' Cole was being played, everyone had got their phones out to record the couple dancing slowly.

"Remember this?" Jamie was whispering to Rose. "You said this was one of your favourites."

"Yeah, I love all the old ones," Rose agreed, her arms around his neck. "I think everyone's recording this."

"Well, let's give them something to talk about eh?" Jamie grinned leaning his head to one side then kissing her forehead.

As the song came to an end, everyone watched as Rose reached up and they kissed, which went on for quite some time, well so Alec thought. He tried not to watch as everyone stood up and cheered the happy couple, he knew he was jealous of the lucky man who had just married Rose Tyler and being here until tomorrow was not going to do him any good.

All he could do was wish her well, when he got a moment alone with her.

Chapter 15

Alec's thoughts were interrupted as Daisy had left the table to go to him.

"Doesn't Rose look amazing Dad?" Daisy asked him as she slipped her arm in his. "She looks so happy."

He couldn't deny the bride looked happy as everyone was cheering.

"I'm so glad I was able to come, I don't think I'll ever forget this." Daisy added.

"It will be something to tell your friends," Alec agreed. "Want to dance with me?"

The music had changed and people were gathering on the dance floor as Daisy led the way, waving to her mother but Rose spotted her.

"Hi Daisy! Enjoying yourself?" she asked the teenager.

"This is great," Daisy beamed at her.

"I hope ya gonna let go of your dad so he can dance with me later?" Rose laughed.

"I am not a very good dancer," Alec admitted.

"Aw, you'll be fine," Rose laughed as Jamie turned back from waving to everyone.

Rose knew Jamie was always one for showing off at any event they went to.

"Now Rose, we've not finished dancing together yet," Jamie interrupted her.

Alec wondered if Rose ever spoke for herself. As the event went on, Alec saw her dancing with her stepfather then some of the guests but Tess was keeping a sharp eye on him. Even though they no longer were together, things could get nasty if Tess put her mind to it.

She would surely spin a few tales at work of how he had danced with the bride, whether it was true or not. It had been bad enough she'd told everyone about Daisy and they were going to be at the wedding.

"Come on Rose, let's get out of here," Jamie encouraged her as people started to leave.

They had cut the wedding cake together and Jamie had said a few words. Alec's mind had been wandering so as the couple opposite were getting ready to leave, Tess said they should go have a rest before the evening event.

"Go find Daisy," Tess told him as she looked around the marquee.

"She is probably with the other bridesmaids, getting changed," Alec replied.

"Oh, are you two staying?" the woman sat with them asked as her husband went off.

"Yes, with Daisy being the head bridesmaid," Tess bragged.

Alec shook his head and went off, not wanting to listen to her. Daisy wasn't in the marquee so he found Jake, who was watching everyone leaving.

"Yeah, they went off a while ago," Jake assured him. "Jackie thought those who were leaving should get changed. She's probably in her room."

Tony was running around outside and saw Alec as he left.

"Want to play with my race track later Alec?" Tony asked him. "Mum said Jamie and Rose will be resting for later."

"Maybe you should ask your dad eh?" Alec told him, not wanting to make himself too at home in the Tyler mansion.

They would be leaving in the morning and he didn't want to get too attached to the boy. He made his way inside, nodding to one of the security team and noticed most of the floral decorations had been taken from the marquee and placed all around the entrance and beyond.

Then he saw Daisy coming downstairs just as Tess joined him.

"Can I stay down here Mum?" Daisy asked Tess. "I don't want to stay in our room."

"Don't get in anyone's way," Tess told her. "Do as Mrs Tyler tells you."

Alec thought he'd be best going to his room until the evening event started, which he'd been told was seven thirty. A buffet was being served for the evening guests in the dining room, Jackie had hired an elite group of musicians for those just wanting to mingle around the vast hallway and dancing taking place in a room that had been cleared.

Rose had protested to her mother about employing outside staff to help, it reminded her too much of when she and The Doctor had gate-crashed a party when she'd been here before.

"Alec, are you having a rest?" Tess wanted to know.

"I may as well stay down here with Daisy," he replied.

He didn't fancy coming face to face with the bride if she were to leave her room for any reason. Not that she would want to, would she? He survived until the evening event guests began to arrive, hoping none of them mistook him for the bridegroom. He was sat with Daisy when Jackie approached them.

"Have you both been looked after?" she wanted to know. "Daisy dear, Rose might want you for some more photos taking."

"Does she want me to get changed again?" Daisy wondered.

"No, you look fine, Rose won't be getting into her wedding dress again," Jackie laughed.

Rose was still deciding what to wear for the evening event. Jamie was hoping she'd make her mind up soon, he wanted to sneak her off for a surprise he'd arranged later. He'd got one of the staff to keep a box of rose petals and some scented candles and place them on and around the bed after red satin sheets and a red counterpane had been put on.

"Rose, just wear the silver sparking one eh?" Jamie encouraged her. "Didn't you buy anything to wear to tonight's party?"

"I didn't have time," Rose replied, holding up the silver one, knowing Jamie didn't mind she was just wrapped in a towel after getting a shower.

He went up behind her as she posed in the mirror, kissing between her shoulders. He'd done very well she'd thought at not getting jealous as other men danced with her earlier but maybe that was because Alec Hardy hadn't been amongst them. Neither had Alec been one queuing to kiss the bride shortly before the daytime event had ended.

Was she a little disappointed after she'd hinted for him to do so? Well at least it hadn't given Jamie the chance to blow up and start a fight she supposed. Maybe he'd stop that now they were actually married, she hoped.

She finally chose the silver dress as Jamie put a wrapped box in front of her, Rose wondering what he was up to now.

"Well open it love," he grinned.

She found the reason why he'd been pushing her into choosing the silver dress as she unwrapped the gift box to find a matching silver underwear set that there was hardly anything of.

"You," Rose turned towards him. "I'll put it on then?" she teased him.

"Need some help love?" he offered with a big smile on his face.

"Come on Jamie, be serious. Mum will go mad if we're not downstairs when the evening guests start arriving."

"Don't remind me. She'll get Alec Hardy to pretend he's me if I'm not careful," Jamie complained.

"What have ya got against him?" Rose wanted to know. "Jamie, he goes home in the morning."

"Sorry love, I know. I didn't start a fight with him, did I?" he asked innocently.

"Did ya see the way he was looking after Tony?" Rose asked him. "I expect mum thought Tony would be near the front and not want to come and join us?"

"By leaving him with my double? Rose, it's a wonder the poor kid wasn't totally confused. She sent him to find me and Tony earlier, what was she thinking?" Jamie wondered.

Rose thought she'd best not admit she'd seen Alec on his way to Tony's play room. It was bad enough her stepfather had said something. They were finally ready to go downstairs, Jamie looking out of the window at all the people arriving.

"Does your mother think this place is bigger on the inside?" he joked at all the cars being parked around the side as what had been Rose's room faced the gardens and fountain.

"My mum loves a good party," Rose laughed as they stood at the top of the stairs.

"Tell me about it," Jamie laughed as well as he took her hand and led her downstairs.

Pete had been waiting for them with Tony and saw them, calling for everyone's attention.

"If everyone will take a drink and raise their glasses to the bride and groom," Pete announced.

"Can I take one?" Daisy asked Alec as a waiter passed by with a tray of drinks.

"I don't see why not," he replied, wondering where Tess was.

Did she want to make an entrance behind the newlyweds? He wouldn't be at all surprised but then he saw her across the other side of the stairway. The couple stood halfway down for guests to take photos, Daisy nudging Alec to get his phone out and take some.

"Haven't you got enough pictures of them?" Alec asked her as people were crowding around the staircase.

"They're all of Rose in her wedding dress," Daisy pointed out to him, Alec not wanting to be reminded. "That silver dress is gorgeous."

"I'm sure your mother will get plenty," Alec assured her, since Tess had got closer. "Where's your phone anyway?"

"Dad, I couldn't use it earlier, could I? Besides, the camera's rubbish," Daisy complained, hinting she wanted a new phone.

Rose was whispering to Jamie that she could see Daisy and wanted the girl to join them so Jamie tapped Pete on the shoulder and told him.

"Daisy, come here and join us," Pete called out to her, Alec giving her a nudge.

Alec knew she should get used to being known as Rose Tyler's bridesmaid for a good while as the newspaper supplements and magazines would be full of nothing else, like they had been weeks before. As the evening went on, Daisy was being asked to join Rose and Jamie when people were asking for individual photos that Tess was complaining she'd hardly seen her all night.

Eventually, she mentioned it to Alec and sent him to look for her when Rose seemed to have vanished as well.

"Leave her be Tess," Alec told her, not wanting to search all the rooms and embarrass himself if Daisy was only dancing.

"Alec, we've hardly seen her," Tess told him.

"She's enjoying herself," Alec reminded her. "Fine but if she's dancing, I won't disturb her."

He wished he'd not gone into where the disco was, it was crowded and lights were flashing around a disco ball hanging from the ceiling that gave him a headache after only glancing around to see if Daisy was there. He supposed she could be at the front but he couldn't spot her so he tried where people were scattered around talking.

He went in the kitchen that had security restricting access but was allowed in and Daisy wasn't hanging around there so he took the turning towards the back of the house, passing a few closed doors until he got to the end where there was a glass door and what looked like a conservatory lit up with blue and lights all around and potted plants.

Then he saw Rose sitting on one of the Whicker chairs and she turned towards him as he put his hand on the door handle.

"Hi Alec, whatcha doing down here?" Rose asked him.

"I did not mean to disturb you, I was looking for Daisy," Alec explained.

"She's either dancin' or flirting with the fellas," Rose laughed.

"Hopefully not the latter," Alec smiled.

"You have no idea how many times my mum used to tell me to stay away from the boys," Rose admitted. "Doesn't your wife know where she is?"

He wanted to say he didn't need reminding Tess should know where their daughter was.

"She was the one who sent me looking for her," he admitted. "I have to tell you how Daisy looks up to you, she would not dare tell you herself."

"Aw, at her age, I was into all kinds of celebrities. I'm no-one special Alec, I was just a shop girl until my mum met Pete."

Alec suspected there was more to that but let it go.

"I should go look for her," he replied after a few seconds.

"Alec, can I ask ya something?" making him turn back to face her. "Why didn't ya ask me for a dance?"

"You seemed quite busy, I did not want to add to the number of men watching for you to finish a dance."

"I wouldn't have minded," Rose smiled, her silver sparkly dress glittering in the soft lights. "Ya didn't queue to kiss the bride either."

Alec tried not to look embarrassed.

"You had a long queue," he tried to make the excuse.

"I wouldn't have minded one more," Rose tried not to blush.

"I should get going," Alec told her. "Daisy has probably returned while I have been looking for her."

"Did ya try where the disco is?" Rose asked him.

"It was too crowded," Alec admitted.

"Yeah, it would have been compared to the alternative," Rose laughed. "My mum went from one extreme to the other. I just came in here for a few minutes to myself."

"Then I apologise for disturbing you," Alec replied.

"It's okay Alec, really. See ya?" she told him with a smile.

Alec went off but Jamie saw him and went down the corridor, wondering what the detective was doing wandering around, then he saw lights on in the conservatory.

"Rose? I've been looking for you, what are you doing in here love?" he wanted to know. "Was Alec Hardy just here?"

Rose knew what he was up to.

"He was just looking for Daisy," Rose told him.

"Won't she be in the disco?" Jamie wondered. "How did he even know about this place?"

"Jamie, he probably saw the lights were on and thought she was here," Rose replied. "Come on, we'd better get back to the party."

"Yes, let's go dance?" he suggested, hoping Alec was there so he could show off.

What was it that worried him about the detective? It had been bad enough Mickey had turned up but every time he saw Alec Hardy, it was like having a mirrored twin staring back at him. Couldn't the man at least grown a bit of a beard so they looked slightly different?

As they made their way into where the disco was, Rose could see Daisy dancing along to the music at the front so she went over to the girl.

"Daisy!" Rose tapped her on the shoulder. "Your dad's looking for ya."

"This is great Rose," Daisy laughed as she waved her arms around. "What did he want?"

"He probably just wanted to know where ya were?" Rose replied as Jamie took her hands.

"Can I have some photos taken with you?" Daisy wanted to know.

"Yeah, sure. Jamie, get ya phone out," Rose laughed.

After several poses of being silly, pulling faces and standing arm in arm, Daisy seemed satisfied and Jamie promised to send them to her phone before they left in the morning. Just before eleven, Jamie said he'd be back in a few minutes and Rose took the opportunity to sit on a chair in the corner, Daisy following her.

"Daisy, did ya know that poor girl who died?" Rose wondered as she took her shoes off and rubbed her feet.

"No, I think she went to my school but I wasn't friends with her. My parents don't talk about it much to me, well when I see my dad anyway," Daisy answered sadly.

"She almost got to be here today but her mother wouldn't allow it," Rose admitted.

Daisy wasn't taking any notice as Alec was walking towards her through the crowd.

"Sorry, what did you say?" Daisy asked her.

"Nothing, it doesn't matter," Rose replied, trying to get her shoes back on but her feet wouldn't co-operate.

"I'm gonna have to get Jamie to fetch me some more comfortable shoes," she then laughed as she nearly lost her balance but grabbed hold of Alec's arm as he saw her and offered it to her.

He soon let go, hoping Jamie hadn't seen him.

"Having fun?" he asked Daisy. "You should have said where you were going."

"Dad, you should have known I'd be where the music was," Daisy laughed. "I've been with Rose and Jamie."

"Yes, I can see that," he replied. "Half an hour then come and find me or your mum."

"I'm never gonna forget this," Daisy turned back to Rose.

"Sorry, for grabbing hold of ya," Rose giggled to Alec.

"Don't worry about it," he assured her.

He went off, passing Jamie in the doorway. Jamie had been to find one of the staff with whom he'd arranged the surprise for Rose so now, he was going to get her to say goodnight to everyone, lead her upstairs and cover her eyes when he opened their room door.

"Find your daughter?" Jamie asked Alec.

"Yes, she is still with Rose," Alec told him. "She has been here for some time but I did not see her when I went looking for her."

"She was near the front when we saw her," Jamie replied.

Alec went off and found Tess talking to Jackie so he left them alone and went into the dining room to try to get a hot drink. He saw Rose and Jamie pass by the door, Rose was laughing, her arm in Jamie's then Jamie began laughing. Alec wondered if it was for his benefit but they probably didn't even know he was there.

Chapter 16

Alec decided after his drink he should maybe go to his room. The bride and groom had probably been on the way to theirs so he went to try to find Daisy again and saw her with Tess, going up the grand staircase.

"There you are Alec," Tess told him as he caught up.

"Dad, where have you been?" Daisy wanted to know. "I had loads of photos taken with Rose and Jamie, it was such fun, my friends are going to be so jealous. Jamie took them on his phone, he promised to send them to mine before we leave in the morning."

"I'm glad you've been enjoying yourself," Alec replied as they stood at the top of the stairs.

"Rose is so lucky Mum," Daisy laughed. "Jamie's such a dream, they make a great couple. Just think, they're going to be in the magazines for a while now."

Alec thought more expense for him and Tess buying endless copies of magazines and weekend newspapers for their bridal specials.

"Well if you want them, save up your allowance," Tess insisted. "If you're getting pictures sent to your phone, ask for the wi-fi password instead of using your data allowance."

"Mum, it doesn't cost anything to receive messages," Daisy laughed.

"It does to run the app," Tess reminded her. "I'm surprised the two of them weren't going off tonight."

"They no doubt stayed to make sure all the guests had left and any reporters," Alec suggested. "Some of the guests are still here. They would not want to be followed to a hotel."

"Well I'm glad they'll still be here in the morning so I can say goodbye to them," Daisy told him. "Rose promised to stay friends with me."

Alec hoped she wouldn't be disappointed when Rose soon forgot about it. Would he himself be any less disappointed once Rose got settled down to married life and forgot about him? She had sounded a bit sad when he'd talked to her but maybe she'd just been tired? She had been surprised he'd not danced with her but it wouldn't have been wise to make Jamie any more jealous than he already was. He had to admit he would gladly have danced with her, had he known she'd been disappointed but she was only being friendly, it wouldn't have meant anything.

Now, he had to go home in the morning, back to a murder investigation and forget about her. Would he be able to?

Rose was pleasantly surprised when Jamie opened the bedroom door and he had picked her up and carried her inside.

"Wow! You did all this for me?" Rose asked him as he put her down.

"Well I arranged it for you," Jamie replied. "Do you like it love?"

"Aw, it was really sweet of ya Jamie," Rose told him, smelling a handful of rose petal she picked up from the bed. "It's the perfect end to our wedding day."

She went to put her arms around him, Jamie lifting her up.

"Ah, wait until tomorrow, when we go on our honeymoon," he laughed. "No, I'm not telling you where we're going but you had best hand me your passport, you won't be needing it."

"Ya mean where staying in the UK?" Rose sounded disappointed.

"Well, not exactly but I had Jake arrange to get you a new one rushed through," he grinned.

"Cheat!" Rose laughed. "Well, tell me where we're goin' then?"

"Oh no, can't spoil the surprise," Jamie laughed back. "So, need help getting undressed love?"

"You've been waitin' to ask me that all night," Rose teased him.

Jamie wasn't going to be disappointed as she let him help her and once he'd blown out all but a few candles that could be safely left unattended as he'd arranged, they got under the covers, leaving the petals to fall on the floor. Rose thought he couldn't have got any more romantic on their wedding night and hoped now they were married, he would not stop when he usually did, something they had agreed on that they would wait as they knew they would get married.

Rose thought she felt a little different as she fell asleep, Jamie still nibbling at her neck and ear.

"Okay sweetheart?" he asked her. "Bet you were surprised with all the petals and candles?"

"Yeah, they were lovely," Rose agreed as she yawned. "This has been the best day of my life Jamie."

"Mine too love. I meant what I said earlier. My life changed the day you walked into my office," Jamie admitted.

The next morning, having a repeat of the night before, well Rose thought it was a repeat as she felt the same, they went down to breakfast, having left their cases outside the door for them to be put in Pete's car. He was taking them to the airport for the plane to Palma, where they were joining the cruise which set sail early evening.

They'd paid for extra luggage allowance, since they would be away for two weeks and Jamie had expected Rose to bring back presents for everyone, as well as even more clothes than she'd gone with. Daisy was waiting eagerly for Jamie to send the photos from the night before to her, Tess warning her not to bother the newlyweds too much.

Alec had woken early and felt no differently than the night before, which was trying to get Rose out of his mind and failing. What was he going to do when he got back to Sandbrook and Rose got on with married life? The only way he'd ever see her again was either in the glossy magazines or if by some chance Daisy was invited to spend the weekend with them. Tess would probably volunteer to take her anyway so that was out. What other excuse did he have?

He just had to face the truth, why would Rose be bothered with him after today? He looked up as Daisy and Tess entered the dining room, followed by Pete and Tony.

"Alec!" Tony greeted him as he tried to get away from Pete.

"Calm down Tony," Pete laughed.

"It's okay Pete," Alec told him as Tony wanted to sit next to him. "Are you still excited from yesterday?" he asked the boy.

"Yeah but Rose and Jamie are going away," Tony complained. "Dad said so, for two whole weeks," he sighed, looking disappointed.

Daisy went to sit next to him and patted his back.

"Never mind Tony, you'll see them when they get back, won't he Dad?" she asked Alec and smiled at Tony.

"Sure you will Tony," Alec tried to assure him and thinking how lucky the boy was.

"What time are you all leaving?" Pete asked Alec.

"After breakfast," Tess told him. "Daisy, make sure you've got everything."

"Don't worry about it," Pete laughed. "You'd be surprised what visitors leave behind. Jackie says it's like a hotel sometimes."

"Ah, where is she?" Tess wondered where Jackie had got to.

"Bit of a sore head this morning," Pete grinned.

Alec thought no wonder after last night. On the way downstairs, Jamie stopped to ask Rose something.

"Are you going to stay in touch with Daisy then?"

"Yeah, I promised her Jamie," Rose reminded him. "Why not?"

"Just wondered. Do you think she'll tell her dad?" Jamie wanted to know.

"Why do ya ask?" Rose asked him.

"No reason," Jamie tried to bluff. "I just wondered, I mean after I saw him leave the conservatory last night."

"Jamie, what ya mean by that?" Rose questioned him. "I told ya, he was lookin' for Daisy, that's all. In case ya never noticed, he never asked me to dance at the reception and he didn't queue up to kiss the bride."

"Okay, I'll give him that," Jamie admitted. "Did he talk about anything else though?"

"I'm not having this conversation with ya Jamie. Dad will be waiting to take us to the airport."

"We don't check in until two," Jamie reminded her. "I expect they'll be gone by then?"

Rose set off down the stairs, wondering what had come over her new husband. Jamie had it in his head that Alec being in the same room as her last night was more than it had actually been. This wasn't the first time Jamie had got jealous but she was hoping he would start to trust her more.

She tried not to let anything show when she joined everyone in the dining room. Daisy waited to ask Jamie for the photos and was making sure Rose had her phone number.

"So, is it okay if I call you sometime?" Daisy wanted to make sure.

"Yeah, 'course ya can," Rose laughed. "I'll call ya back to save the credit on ya phone."

"Great and I'm glad I got chosen, it's been a great weekend," Daisy told her. "Last night, were you saying something, about someone else almost being chosen?"

"Oh, it doesn't matter," Rose insisted. "I'm glad you all enjoyed yourselves. Ya should have seen all the entries we got from the competition. There were millions and I'd love to have been able to choose more bridesmaids but what number would I have stopped at?"

"You never opened all the envelopes?" Daisy went all serious.

"No," Rose laughed. "I just picked three envelopes, then chose one for head bridesmaid. Sorry, I had to check it was okay with your mum."

"I'm glad she said yes," Daisy looked at her mother.

"I would never have heard the end of it if I had said no," Tess replied. "It gave us all a break from work."

"Yeah, I bet," Jamie joined in.

"It's awful what happened to that girl," Rose told them. "Please give my condolences to her parents."

"We will," Alec assured her. "If I don't see them, Tess will pass it on."

"Alec, if there's anything Torchwood can do to help, don't hesitate to call," Pete told him.

"Thank you, I appreciate that," Alec told him. "I should start packing the car."

He didn't know what else to say. His chief may not like Torchwood taking over the investigation. It may also involve sending Rose to assess the situation and she would have her husband with her, unless she left him at home but that would be dangerous.

He was going to have enough problems getting Rose out of his system once he got home. He just hoped Ricky Gillespie wouldn't start going on again about how Lee Ashworth was responsible for Pippa's death. Maybe he should take up Pete's offer of help and get a confession out of the main suspect.

He just hoped that when they went back to work, they could get some solid evidence from the suspect's wife turning on him, Torchwood would surely have ways of doing that as well. He made his excuses and went back to the room he'd been using, seeing all the case's outside the newlywed's room and thinking he hoped they'd got extra baggage allowance if they were flying somewhere.

When Tess, Daisy and Alec were ready to leave, Jamie went to help the staff bring down their luggage and Rose was talking with Daisy as they went outside.

"Well, have a good journey back," Rose was saying, her arm in Daisy's. "So, are ya gonna follow your parents into the police?"

Daisy was sure Rose had asked her that before.

"I don't know yet, maybe?" Daisy replied. "I'm glad I got to be here this weekend, thanks for everything."

Daisy gave her a big hug and Tess was waiting to shake her hand, that turning into a hug as well. Alec though was trying to stay out of the way but failed.

"Aw, it was nice to have ya all here," Rose laughed at Alec's awkwardness as he pulled the back door down and turned to meet her face to face.

"I hope ya catch whoever killed that poor girl. Ya will call if ya need any help, won't you Alec?" she asked him.

"Yes, I will pass it onto the chief," Alec replied, holding his hand out but Rose took him by surprise and reached up to hug him.

She hadn't realised that Jamie had gone into their bedroom and was watching them. He was thankful the detective was finally going home but could he forget seeing him leaving the conservatory last night, then finding Rose alone in the dim fancy lighting. He shook his head and let the net curtain go and thought he'd just have to let it go or it would be bothering him all through the honeymoon.

"Bye Alec, take care," Rose told him. "Daisy, I don't want to see your story of this weekend all over the papers," she then laughed.

Daisy saw the funny side and got in the back of the car.

"Thanks for letting her come Tess," Rose then turned to her. "Bye everyone."

"Bye Rose," Daisy called from the back.

As Alec went around the other side of the car, she didn't hear him saying goodbye. He hadn't wanted to hug Rose, it was just making things worse and he didn't want her or Tess hearing him say goodbye.

"You didn't have to hug her back Alec," Tess told him as they drove off and Daisy had put her earphones on and was messing around finding something to listen to.

"Why are you so bothered?" he wanted to know as the satnav told him to turn right when he'd hit the 'Home' option.

"Are you two going to fight all the way home?" Daisy asked them both. "Geez, I should have stayed a bit longer where we've just been."

"Don't be cheeky," Alec told her, not wanting her to remind him he wished he was staying as well.

He hoped the further away he got, it would lessen the fact he hadn't wanted to leave. He had to go home and forget about Rose but how could he when there would be a constant reminder of the offer of help from Torchwood and she might be in charge? Then there was the fact she had an interest in the case by saying to give Pippa's mother her condolences.

Perhaps he should leave that for Tess?

As Rose got back inside, Jamie was coming downstairs, followed by one of the male staff.

"Blimey Rose do you need so much?" Jamie asked her.

"Ya said we were goin' for two weeks," Rose reminded him.

Now he wished he'd only booked one week, she would be bound to be buying presents and new outfits for various occasions. Tony had worn Pete down and was going to the airport with them.

"Don't bring him back any tacky presents Rose," Jackie told her when she emerged from the kitchen.

Rose remembered all the 'Tacky' things her mother used to bring back from a day out at Margate or some other seaside town they'd been to on the train.

"Mum, I want a t-shirt with Majorca on," Tony blurted out, getting a frown from Jamie.

"That'll teach ya not to tell him where ya takin' me," Rose laughed.

"How was I to know?" Jamie defended himself.

"Quiet Tony, ya know what your father said," Jackie reminded Tony.

"He's not given it all away," Jamie told her. "Thanks mate," he then grinned at Tony.

"Sorry Jamie," Tony grinned back.

"It's not your fault," Jackie then told him. "Really Jamie, ya can't expect to tell him something and not tell Rose."

"Never mind Mum," Rose told Jackie. "I'm sure it won't spoil it."

"Well that was only part of it," Jamie then admitted. "We should set off soon, at least I booked the VIP lounge!"

"Trust you," Rose laughed.

"We get well looked after in there," Jamie reminded her. "Remember?"

Rose did remember he used to book the VIP facilities on their travels. She couldn't decide if it was because he didn't want to sit with the locals and all their baggage strewn around the airport lounge and kids climbing on the seats and jumping on or over the cases or if it was for the air conditioning and cold drinks.

Jamie could be more of a snob than her mother at times. Once at the airport, Pete helped Jamie load everything on the baggage trolley while Rose kept hold of Tony, who wanted to go see the planes. At one time, it was the zeppelins he wanted to see but planes were becoming more popular even on the shorter routes.

"Shame there were no zeppelins scheduled today," Jamie was telling Pete, regretting not booking another flight instead of this one. "Rose would have loved that, I might see if I can swap the flight coming back. Tell Tony it's okay, he wasn't to know where I was taking Rose was a secret."

"I will, don't worry Jamie," Pete agreed as they headed to the VIP desk.

They got booked in and said goodbye to Pete and Tony then were allowed in the VIP lounge, where they had about an hour to wait for their flight to Palma. Jamie went to get them some drinks and sandwiches and Rose was hoping Pete had taken Tony to see all the planes at the gates.

"Well, ready for this?" Jamie grinned. "I thought you might like the first part of the honeymoon, where we can just relax, eh love?"

"If ya told me where exactly we're going?" Rose smiled as she finished her coffee, which being in the VIP lounge was served in fancy cups, not cartons.

"You'll find out love," Jamie smiled. "We should have had champagne instead of coffee,"

"I think we had enough yesterday," Rose told him. "Don't you go asking for some on the flight."

"I'll try not to love. I hope it was a wise move booking seats with more leg room," he then laughed.

"Yeah, you and your long legs," Rose smiled.

They were called forward to board the plane, Rose not surprised they were in first class and a few hours later, they were stepping out into the bright sunshine, Jamie going first and then helping Rose off the bottom step. They were directed to the VIP lounge and their luggage was waiting for them, then Jamie pushed the trolley towards the exit where they were greeted by the travel company's rep.

"You sneak!" Rose laughed when Jamie put his hand up in response to their names being called.

"I said it was something nice and relaxing love," he grinned. "What better way to enjoy our first week of being married than going on a cruise? We can wake up in a different place every morning without having to drag our luggage around," he pointed out.

As they went out to the coach that was waiting to take them to the port to board their cruise liner, Rose began to wonder if that was what had been on Jamie's mind, to wake in a new place every morning or was it because she hadn't wanted to go on any expeditions since they started planning their wedding? Who knew where Jamie was concerned?

Chapter 17

Rose thought Jamie had been right about the relaxing cruise, which included shore trips to Barcelona, Rome, Tunisia and Monaco, though Rose could have done without Jamie complaining there was no leg room on the coaches. Jamie bought a toy camel for Tony and Rose insisted on putting it in the window of their cabin so she could see where it was from outside the ship.

Barcelona reminded Rose that The Doctor promised to take her to the planet but she couldn't let on to Jamie. Jamie took too much time looking around a shop that they almost lost the tour guide, making them laugh while everyone looked at them.

"Ah, just like the old days when we used to travel around, eh Rose?" Jamie nudged her as they sat on the sun deck of the ship when they got back. "I was right about not having to trail our luggage around."

"Yeah, ya were," Rose had to agree, still not over their trip to the Vatican and seeing a weird photo on her camera that looked like she'd seen an actual ghost.

"Come on Rose, I explained about that photo," Jamie went serious.

"I don't remember seeing anyone pass me, well not in a robe," Rose insisted. "I'm gonna have Jake examine it when we get back."

"He'll tell you the same as me," Jamie replied, waiting for afternoon tea to be served, then he'd be first in line. "Only he'll laugh at it more then I did."

"Be serious Jamie," Rose tried to tell him. "Sure you weren't just larkin' around though?" she then wondered, knowing what he could be like sometimes.

"Rose, I wasn't wearing , remember?" Jamie reminded her. "Try to just forget about it eh? I told you we weren't going home when we get back to Palma and I promise no more visits to churches, okay?"

Rose had to agree though maybe if she told Alec Hardy, him being a detective, he'd probably launch an investigation. She dare not mention him to Jamie though, he'd not even mentioned the detective since last Sunday. She hoped that it would be the end of Jamie getting more jealous of the detective than all the others put together.

The rest of their honeymoon seemed to fly by, with a week in a resort hotel when the cruise ship docked in Palma and Jamie said they could sit by the pool and relax for the next week, though Rose wished they were staying on board for another week and visiting different places.

Had she really missed travelling around that much? When they got home, she was going to have to decide if she wanted to get her old job back or do something new. Maybe she could find another position within Torchwood, then Jamie might not get the urge to go off anywhere again?

Soon, they were on their way home and Jamie had yet another surprise for Rose as they waited for their ride to the airport.

"So, are we gonna go see mum and Tony tomorrow?" Rose was asking.

"Yeah, Tony's gonna love that camel," Jamie laughed, seeing it sticking out of the top of a bag. "Mind you, your mother will still complain it's tacky."

"Hey, she'd complain even more if ya'd got her that camel ornament," Rose tried to be serious.

They both laughed as their luggage was put in the back of the coach for the ride to the airport but once there, they were directed to another lounge, Rose thinking it was the VIP one. It was but it also doubled for the zeppelin port as well, one being on the ground in the distance.

"Jamie, are we going by plane or that?" Rose pointed out of the large window in the corner.

Jamie held his hands up.

"Oh, so you guessed then? I thought with all the extra stuff we'd be bringing back, it would be good to have a generous baggage allowance."

"We'd have got away with it," Rose replied. Then she realised the trouble he'd gone to. "Aw, it was a nice thought, thanks," she then told him.

Once home, Rose was glad they didn't have to rely on the laundry service in the hotel and they went to visit Tony and her parents the next day.

"This is cool," Tony was admiring the toy camel. "Did you get me a t-shirt as well?"

Jamie ruffled the boy's hair.

"Think it'd forget that mate?" he laughed, as Rose handed a plastic bag to him.

Then she stood and stared at it, Jackie noticing.

"Rose? Ya look like ya saw a ghost," she laughed.

"I think I did Mum. Jamie, are you thinking the same as me?"

"It would explain it," Jamie had to agree, thinking she would now maybe forget about the photo. "Rose took a photo and when she looked at it, she thought it was a ghostly figure, since we were in the Vatican. Bet you anything someone passed by holding a plastic bag?"

He was glad Rose could finally get over it and she was accepting the explanation.

"Yeah, what else would it be Rose?" Jackie wanted to know, remembering the 'Ghosts' back in their old world that were actually Cybermen trying to break through from this one and the Torchwood there had let them.

Jamie hadn't been told of those events so they had to keep quiet. It wasn't that Rose didn't trust him but she could never admit she'd been here before, in a time machine with an alien. They had all stuck to the same story that Rose and Jackie had the misfortune to get mixed up in those events and they wanted to forget about it.

Even though Jamie was now family, Pete was still reluctant to tell him everything and if the time came, he'd be the one to break it to his now son-in-law.

Rose went back to helping Jamie for a while, then took over Mickey's new department when he decided he couldn't work there any more. Rose had been hoping she could give up work and concentrate on having a family but even though Jamie made a fuss of Tony, it seemed he wasn't that bothered about having any kids of his own.

Back in Sandbrook, the investigation into the death of Pippa Gillespie had ground to a halt, with nothing going on now Tess had managed to lose vital evidence to convict the neighbour. Alec had thought of taking all the blame but then decided he was not going down alone. Tess was still annoyed at the way he'd acting after getting home from Rose Tyler's wedding.

He had decided to let Tess tell Cate that Rose had sent her condolences. Cate had then questioned how on Earth Rose had asked for them to be passed on.

"Cate, my daughter was one of her bridesmaids," Tess had told her late one afternoon. "Well she was the head and we were there for the weekend. She said she was quite sad to hear about it."

"Well I suppose she was trying to apologise then?" Cate had asked.

"How do you mean?" Tess wondered.

"Well, she had the nerve to put that silly contest to be a bridesmaid in those magazines and send every teenager into meltdown at the thought of winning," Cate complained. "Then Pippa disobeyed me and applied and she'd won a place."

"Really?" Tess was surprised. "She never said anything to me about it. She was probably too busy to think to mention it?"

"I can believe that," Cate told her. "Typical. I mean she had the nerve to get the magazine to call me, I had no idea Pippa had applied. I bet anything it was Claire and Lisa who encouraged her."

"Was she disappointed she couldn't go?" Tess had dared ask.

"Oh no Tess, I'm not answering any questions on the subject so forget about it," Cate had turned on her. "I don't want to hear anything else about it. You don't get to make me feel guilty I didn't let her go Tess. Had I known something was going to happen, well, I don't want to think about it. Now please leave."

Tess had known she'd hit a sore point and wondered if it was worth mentioning to Alec. Had it made a difference on how Pippa was the night she went missing? She thought about if Daisy hadn't won or she'd not been allowed to go and Daisy would probably not talked to them until she'd forgotten about it.

Instead, all the news coverage afterwards, double page spreads and magazine specials about the big day and Daisy's photo had been in them. She had been grateful Rose's PR team had left out where the bridesmaids had come from but their names were mentioned. Luckily, the local paper hadn't figured out Daisy was the daughter of the two lead detectives in a murder investigation but it was only a matter of time.

As Rose was getting back to work again, the subject came up as Alec remembered Rose had asked for them to tell Cate how sorry she was for their loss.

"Yes, I remembered Alec," Tess was insisting. "I've not had time to tell you about it and I've only just managed to tell her anyway. I was waiting for the right time."

"Well I hope you didn't tell her it was you who lost the pendant?" Alec asked sarcastically. "Well, what did she have to say?"

"Stop going on about that. She didn't say much. Oh, she did mention something odd though. Apparently, Pippa had been picked for being one of Rose Tyler's bridesmaids but she'd applied behind Cate's back and Cate had refused to let her go. I wonder if that was why Daisy was chosen instead? I'm not sure I like the fact Daisy may have been second choice," Tess then complained.

"Is that all you're bothered about Tess?" Alec asked her. "She was picked, end of story and if you'd not let her go, she could still not be talking to us. What else did Cate have to say about it?" he wanted to know, wondering why Rose had never said anything.

"She wasn't happy that Rose had sent her sympathy," Tess replied. "She was really annoyed about being contacted that Pippa was invited to be a bridesmaid when she knew nothing about it."

"You need to ask her more about it," Alec decided. "It could have affected how she was before she was killed. Had she still been talking to Lisa about it? If she was still unhappy, she could have got Lisa to take her next door despite being told not to."

"I'll see if Cate will talk but she may want to forget about it," Tess told him. "We never took any of this into account, I mean how the girls were up to that night and we never asked if they'd blamed Lisa for Pippa putting her name forward either," Tess realised.

"Rose mentioned she only picked out the winning envelopes but nothing about seeing Pippa's name," Alec remembered.

"She must have forgotten," Tess realised. "She did have a lot going on and we weren't there to ask questions."

Alec thought she could speak for herself. He'd had plenty but hadn't dared, the Tyler family had been more than generous opening their home to guests and Daisy had been treated like one of their own. It had been a bit unnerving to look at Jamie but when they'd first met, he had a feeling the other man hadn't taken it very well.

They'd had staring contests on several occasions, even Tess had noticed but he couldn't imagine how Rose had felt. If she'd had danced with him, what then? No, it had been best he'd held back from dancing and especially kissing the bride. What had brought it on, he had no idea, maybe it had been Daisy going on non-stop about it? He was now once again in his daughter's good books for keeping his promise to take her to the wedding but it had cost them a fortune buying all the newspapers and magazines so she could keep them.

Then, Tess changed the subject.

"Oh, Rose's mother sent some photos that had been taken during and after the ceremony," she told him. "Daisy looks so happy in them, they've come out really well."

"Well the Tylers would have used the best photographers in London," Alec replied. "You wouldn't expect anything less than perfect."

"Do you want to see them?" she wanted to know.

"I'll look when I come and see Daisy," he replied, not wanting to seem over keen.

"Alec, won't you change your mind and not pin all the blame on me for the missing pendant?" Tess then asked him.

"Tess, you were responsible," Alec reminded her. "How can you say otherwise? You volunteered to take the evidence back when you were on your way home, there are no excuses. You chose to stop and carelessly leave it in the car."

"I wasn't thinking Alec," Tess admitted.

"No Tess, you weren't," Alec agreed. "You were too busy wanting to meet Dave, you see him all day."

"Stop going on Alec. It's different seeing someone at work," she told him.

"You had best hope we can do without it," Alec replied. "Someone needs to keep going on at Claire as well. She knows more than she's letting on."

"We already know that Alec. "I can't work on Cate and Claire. You might have better luck with her."

Alec was already worried, the way Claire was giving them the run-around.

"If Lee Ashworth gets off, he'll go straight for her. Then we watch them," Alec suggested.

"You can't just leave it until then Alec," Tess told him.

"Have you got another idea?" Alec asked her.

Things didn't get any better concerning the ongoing case. Alec had considered getting help from Torchwood but doubted it would do any good. They had looked into what had happened over Pippa being chosen to be one of Rose's bridesmaids and Alec was glad when the subject had been dropped. It was doing him no good being reminded of her all the time.

He'd had to accept even though Tess had agreed finally to a divorce, Rose was married and apart from keeping in touch with Daisy, probably never gave him a thought. Daisy had become popular amongst her friends, showing off the photos Jamie had sent to her phone and she'd bought a special photo album to put the official wedding photos in.

Before any of them knew it, a year had gone by and it was Rose and Jamie's wedding anniversary and Jamie had planned a host of surprises, including a night time special flight on the London wheel, complete with champagne and chocolates, then staying in a top London hotel. The next day, he'd planned to take her via the channel tunnel to Paris for a few days and the day before they were leaving, he'd told Rose to pack for a few days.

"I can't believe it's a year already," Rose had told him before he'd gone to work.

"I know!" he laughed as he spiked up his hair. "This time last year, everyone was rushing around, especially your mother. Tony was getting really excited about it."

Then, for some reason, he thought back to coming face to face with Alec. Rose saw the look on his face.

"Ya not still bothered about Daisy's dad looking like ya?" she asked him.

"No, why should I be?" Jamie denied it. "Okay, it was a bit disturbing, like looking in a mirror all the time I suppose?"

"I bet he never bothered about it as much as you did?" Rose laughed. "Daisy will probably remember."

"I bet when you go to your mother's she's sent you an anniversary card," Jamie laughed back.

Rose thought that was enough on the subject as she kissed him goodbye. She had been hoping that by the time their anniversary came around, she might at least suspect she was pregnant but nothing was happening in that department. She knew Jamie loved her, there was no reason why they shouldn't start a family. Maybe he just wanted to wait a bit longer, while they had some time to themselves?

Alec had remembered it was a year since he'd taken Daisy to Rose's wedding and it didn't make him feel any better. He'd seen a few things in the papers about her, one being a recap of the wedding last year and he'd not forgotten any of the events, which he knew he should have done.

So the morning Rose was packing, he was facing his chief, who had noticed Alec was still attracting the media over what had happened at Lee Ashworth's trial. He had been defiant and pleaded not guilty to killing Pippa, Ricky Gillespie had threatened to kill him, in front of the judge and had been held back by security, a London reporter had done nothing to help Alec's cause by putting him down every chance she got and Jamie had been trying to ignore the headlines every time Alec's name was across them.

Rose had hoped he'd got over his jealousy but she had no idea things were going to blow out of all proportion. It had been agreed that Alec needed to get away and forget about the disaster of a trial and the fact Tess had done nothing but complain. Ricky Gillespie had turned on him so it was time to leave.

"I'm sorry Alec," he was being told. "It's best all round and I've found someone willing to take you on. Elaine Jenkinson is an old friend of mine, she knows what happened wasn't your fault. She'll try and keep it quiet and she's risking upsetting one of her officers, who was due a promotion. She doesn't think the officer is quite ready, the female officer could benefit from your experience."

"Then what?" Alec wanted to know. "I get moved again or come back here?"

"No, of course not Alec, unless you want to come back? I've arranged to give you a week to settle in, you'll only be on call if something major happens, otherwise get to know the area and settle in. They'll arrange a hotel for now, you can look around for something suitable. Jenkinson says it should be quiet, nothing ever happens there."

"So where is this place then?" Alec dared ask, thinking it would be just his luck it would be the back of beyond, a place no-one had ever heard of.

"It's called Broadchurch, on the south west coast," he was told.

"A seaside town?" Alec didn't like the idea already.

"It's just a small part of it by the sea, there's also the rest of the town. It's not Blackpool Alec," the chief laughed.

"Easy for you to laugh," Alec mumbled to himself, it wasn't the chief who was being bundled off all of a sudden.

Was it all of a sudden, he wondered. Or had the two chiefs been planning it for weeks? Maybe this friend of his chief's had owed him a big favour, one that would get himself off the hook and away from the likes of Ricky Gillespie and the nagging reporter, Karen .

Neither of the latter would let it go and Karen brought it up at every opportunity she got. Well just let her find him once he moved. Maybe it was time to start fresh and maybe Daisy would want to visit, once he got settled? After all, what could happen in a small seaside town with the name of Broadchurch?

Chapter 18

Rose was glad that Alec was finally out of the news headlines. She knew it wasn't fair on him and he'd have done his best to get a conviction. She didn't think it a good idea to ask Pete if they could get involved, to help Alec and it would have just made Jamie even worse.

They were trying to get back to normal, now all the wedding photos for the press had finally all been published and Rose thought that now, Jamie might want to bring up the subject of having a baby. She cornered him one night when they got home.

"Well, what do ya think then?" Rose wanted to know, trying to judge the look on his face.

"Ah, well?" he began nervously. "We've only been married a year Rose."

"Well, what's to stop us?" Rose wanted to know. "It could take a while ya know? We should both get checked over in medical before, ya know."

"Well? We'll have to move, you know? This place isn't suitable for kids running around. Well when I say kids, I mean one kid to start with and maybe another one later."

"Jamie, I'm not asking ya to start our own version of The Waltons ya know?" Rose had to laugh. "We shouldn't decide how many we're gonna have just yet though. Well, can I at least tell mum we're thinkin' about starting a family?" she asked hopefully.

"If it stops her going on about it?" Jamie relented slightly. "I mean looking after Tony's one thing, we can hand him back at the end of the weekend," he laughed.

"Well, we can't stop having Tony over, he'd be upset," Rose reminded him. "Let's tell mum then?"

Rose thought it was all agreed, so after Sunday lunch a few days later, Jamie was off playing a new game with Tony and Rose and Jackie were in the family room.

"Is that for real?" Jackie was making sure she'd heard right at the prospect of being a grandmother.

"Yeah but it may be a while yet Mum," Rose assured her. "Don't keep going on at Jamie, will ya, or it might put him off."

"Well I don't know why," Jackie laughed. "Oh, so he's still not that keen then?"

"I really don't know what's wrong with him Mum," Rose admitted. "I mean I thought he'd be more enthusiastic."

"He'll come around Rose," Jackie tried to assure her.

Rose made appointments for them in medical and they were both declared fit to be parents, Rose thinking it might prompt Jamie to be a bit keener. It wasn't happening though as Rose started a course of vitamins that would help and she knew Jamie wasn't taking what he'd been given by Doctor Harper.

She went back to see the head of medical, to see if Owen could tell her anything.

"Give him time Rose," she was advised. "I can't tell you much without his permission, you know that."

"I just want to know there's nothing wrong with him," Rose insisted.

"There's nothing wrong with him, physically," Owen told her. "Has it occurred to you two that it might be something romantic?" he then smirked.

"Shut up Owen," Rose laughed.

"Well, there's nothing I can do about that," he then told her. "Anything else I can do for you today? Do you want me to give him a psychiatric evaluation?"

Rose got up, trying to stop laughing.

"Good luck with that then Owen. It took some doing getting him to our last appointment."

"Get your friend Jake to talk to him then?" Owen then suggested.

"I'll see how it goes. Jamie's never been one to be over-romantic though," Rose admitted. "Well except for our wedding anniversary. Can I tell ya something?"

Owen nodded, trying to be serious.

"Go ahead, it won't leave his room," he promised.

"It had better not Owen," Rose warned him. "Well, he got jealous of someone at our wedding, someone who looked a lot like him."

"You mean more jealous than usual?" Owen wondered, remembering what Jamie was like with Mickey.

"Well yeah, he hated coming face to face with his twin. Owen, there are a lot of things we never told him about the Doctor. Well there was that detective, Alec Hardy, he brought his daughter to our wedding, she was one of the bridesmaids. I thought it was gonna be guns at twenty paces. Ya should've seen them."

"I never saw them together," Owen admitted. "So, this detective, he's the one from that case with the two missing girls?"

"Well yeah. Jamie said it was like facing himself in the mirror and they were both on edge when they saw each other. If it had been somewhere else they'd met, well I don't know what would've happened," Rose explained.

"It was that bad?" Owen had to laugh. "They've not seen each other since though?"

"No, thank goodness," Rose replied. "Geez Owen, ya think that's the problem? That somehow, Jamie's still got the jealousy bug? I mean there were those times, before the wedding when he'd got jealous but with Alec Hardy, it was different."

"I can imagine," Owen grinned.

"Owen, I don't even want to go there. How can I ask Jamie if he's still jealous? I mean he's fine with other things, why that?"

"You know him better than I do Rose," Owen reminded her. "Get Pete to talk to him then?"

"Well dad knows what happened, well some of it," Rose recalled. "Is it a good idea though? I mean to bring it all up again?"

"Rose, talk to Pete about it then?" Owen then suggested, feeling out of his depth. "I'm not the one to ask for help."

She thanked Owen for his input and went back to work, meaning to visit Pete later on or wait until the following weekend. Jamie would be keeping Tony occupied as usual so she should be safe to find Pete and see what he thought.

Alec's transfer had been delayed but now, he was on his way to Broadchurch but as he arrived, he got the strangest feeling he'd been there before and forgotten all about it. He'd settled in the hotel he'd been put up in and gone back down to the beach, even though now, he hated water more than he'd already done.

He walked along the beach, since the tide was out but thought he'd best not take too long or he'd have to be rescued. Then, it would be in the local paper and Rose may get to see it. For some strange reason, he still thought about her most of the time and he thought a move would help clear his head.

It didn't and now, he was stuck in a small seaside town and when he'd seen a certain cliff, he knew exactly why he remembered it. It was where he used to escape from his parents arguing all the time they'd been here, camping at one of the farms.

He had been too young at the time to understand why they'd argued but it had been his mother getting ill and his father was in denial. He got back to the hotel, the owner staring at him.

"Have you been to Broadchurch before?" Becca Fisher asked him.

"Ah, not exactly," he admitted, thinking it wasn't really a lie, since the small village they'd been to was called Eype.

His dad would never go up or down the narrow road in the car after dark so once they'd got back, they were stuck where they'd camped.

"Well, if you need someone to show you around, just say, yeah?" she then asked hopefully.

He thought it would be a big mistake to get involved in any way with the Australian hotel owner, who if she talked to everyone, word would soon get out. Maybe though, he could get over Rose Tyler once and for all? It was doing him no good thinking about her and that it was just over a year since he'd been at her wedding and he'd refused to dance with her or line up with the others to kiss the bride.

If he'd been brave enough to do the latter, would he have felt any different? It may have only made her husband even more jealous and he'd not wanted that. He'd thought about her, yes but only because he'd regretted not saying anything to her.

Becca brought him back down to Earth.

"Well, I'm off most evenings for a few hours," she was telling him.

"Ah, don't take this the wrong way Ms Fisher but I moved here to get away from my ex wife, I'm not looking to replace her just yet," he told her.

Becca then changed her mood.

"Well, if you say so? Don't let me keep you then, inspector. Call if there's anything you need. Don't take my asking you the wrong way, will you?" she then added, thinking he might spread rumours about her and that would ruin any chances that Mark Latimer would somehow follow up on his flirting with her when he'd come to collect his daughter the other week.

How long was a woman supposed to wait, she asked herself as Alec went off to his room. She may have to take matters into her own hands, if the new inspector wasn't interested. He did look familiar though and she meant to look him up.

Alec was glad when the weekend came around, it had so far been boring, having a sergeant showing him around while waiting for the DS whose job he'd taken to come back from her vacation. Then the sparks would fly. It would be on a level with facing Rose's husband before and after the wedding.

He still couldn't forget that morning, when he'd talked to her then gone off to find her brother. It was like neither he nor Rose wanted anyone to know that he'd seen her and talked to her and she'd probably made up some kind of excuse to her stepfather, whom he'd seen as he gone off towards the attic room Tony had been in.

Then to make things worse, he'd found her in the conservatory later on and had prayed Jamie hadn't seen him leaving.

As usual, Rose and Jamie had gone to her mother's on the Sunday and she'd gone off to find Pete.

"Rose. What can I do for you?" Pete asked when she knocked on his study door.

"Dad, can I talk to ya?" Rose asked him.

"Is something wrong?" he wanted to know, since she usually called him Pete.

"It's about Jamie. I don't know who else to talk to. We went for a physical, to make sure we were both okay before we decided to start a family," Rose started to tell him.

"You were both okay Rose, Owen sent me a copy of your results, it's standard," Pete admitted.

"Dad, I think I'm keener to have kids than Jamie is. I mean he borrows Tony every Sunday and when Tony's with us, he goes more to Jamie," Rose told him.

"That's only natural, Tony looks up to him," Pete reminded her. "So, what else is bothering you?"

"Remember Alec Hardy?" Rose asked him.

"Of course. I wish we could have helped him Rose but we couldn't interfere," Pete told her.

"I get that Dad. No, it's something else, how Jamie got jealous and they almost started a fight," Rose admitted.

"I didn't know it was that serious Rose," Pete replied, closing down his laptop. "I know Jamie found it difficult with Alec looking like him but why would he be jealous?"

"I don't know why Dad, really. I mean he got jealous when we were working away that time. Why did he think Alec was there to make him jealous?" Rose asked him.

"That's between you and Jamie to settle," Pete advised her.

"I can't ask him Dad," Rose admitted. "How can I? I don't know why but I really think it's stopping Jamie thinking about starting a family. I mean why? Neither of us has seen Alec since."

"Rose, he was in the papers when the case fell apart," Pete reminded her. "Maybe that triggered something in Jamie?"

"Geez Dad, why would it? Unless he really thinks somehow I'd go off with Alec? Tell me it's not that."

"I wish I could tell you Rose, really I do," Pete sympathised with her. "Only Jamie can answer that question and you said you can't ask him. No-one can Rose, not without causing trouble between the two of you."

"So I have to keep quiet about it and hope Jamie comes round?" Rose guessed. "Well I just hope it manages to stay out of the papers then," she tried to joke.

"Yes, you had better hope so Rose. Then Jamie might be willing to go ahead starting a family," Pete agreed, wondering what Rose wasn't telling him.

There had to be more to it, to make Jamie so jealous that he wasn't even sure he wanted kids with his wife. What had happened on the weekend of the wedding? He'd seen Alec leaving the direction of Rose's room and then seen Rose at her door a few moments later.

Surely nothing had happened, like Alec being stupid enough to cause even more trouble for himself with Jamie. Then later, he'd seen Alec looking for his daughter and Rose had been missing. He had to give Rose the benefit of the doubt, that it had just been coincidence.

Rose kept quiet about her concerns but no-one knew what they were going to wake up to the following Friday morning. For Alec, all he'd needed was being called to the beach early in the morning, then the DS who had just come back to work had started an argument with him and kept it going all morning.

The worst thing for him wasn't finding a young boy on the beach, which had been too like finding young Pippa in the river but following close behind was word getting out via the local paper before the official statement and Rose would know where he was.

Rose and Jamie had got to work and Rose had meant to drag Jamie off somewhere for the weekend, a last minute idea to try to convince him he wanted a family as much as she did. He had caught her looking at her phone as she looked at hotels that had late offers.

"I know you're up to something Rose," he told her, trying to get her to look away from her phone.

"Well, I was gonna surprise ya," Rose admitted. "Let's go somewhere in the morning and stay overnight?"

"Oh. Well, okay but what about seeing Tony?" he then remembered.

"Jamie, he'll survive for one Sunday without ya," Rose reminded him. "I've found a nice hotel, right on the seafront in Brighton. It won't take us long to get there, we can be there in an hour or so."

"Well okay, I'll pay, if you want?" Jamie offered, Rose wondering what was wrong with him since he'd agreed then offered to pay when it was her idea.

Then, Rose jumped as she got an alert on her phone.

"What is it love?" Jamie wanted to know.

Rose could hardly believe what she was reading but it was just the news saying something had happened in a place called Broadchurch. Alec couldn't be there, could he?

"Ah, nothing, it's not about Brighton, it's about another place beginning with 'B'," she told him.

"That's okay then. Call the hotel and tell them we'll pay when we get there. Tell them who you are if they want a deposit paying," he then joked.

"Very funny Jamie," Rose laughed at the idea.

She went off to her desk, thinking nothing more of the newsflash of a place she'd never heard of. Then her social media alerted her about the same place and she followed the link to a local newspaper in the town that a young boy had been found on Broadchurch beach and that police, led by DI Alec Hardy were investigating.

She knew she couldn't tell Jamie, not yet anyway. He had to find out for himself, she wasn't going to be responsible for making jealousy raise its ugly head again. It wasn't until later that afternoon when they took a break and went to the canteen and people were talking about it and reading news headlines.

"What?" Jamie said to no-one in particular as he picked a paper up off a table. "Rose, have you seen this? Is this what you saw earlier?" he showed her.

"I didn't read it all Jamie," Rose defended herself. "It wasn't about Brighton, it was only saying there were long tailbacks on a road leading somewhere."

"Well, I suppose you wouldn't have read any more then?" Jamie seemed satisfied as he skimmed through the headlines. "It's a place called Broadchurch, a boy's been found on the beach. Blimey, hope they've not got Alec Hardy on the case, with what happened with his last one."

"Don't talk like that Jamie, it wasn't his fault, Jake found out the truth, remember?" she replied.

Jamie just pulled one of his faces and went to get his lunch, passing the paper to her.

"Did you ask him to?" Jamie then asked her.

"Stop it Jamie. Let's not spoil our weekend, yeah?"

They finished eating and went back to work but when Rose was about to finish for the day, Jamie didn't want to leave.

"I'll just finish off a few things, then I'll be home," he promised her. "Sorry about earlier love."

"Yeah, forget about it Jamie. It's hardly likely to be Alec, is it? He took the blame officially, they cleared his name but he insisted Daisy didn't find out," Rose reminded him. "He'd do anything for his daughter, even come to our wedding when he hadn't wanted to."

"Did he tell you that?" Jamie raised his eyebrows.

Rose refused to answer, she didn't start domestic arguments at work, for fear Pete would get to know and send Jake to break them up.

"See ya at home," Rose replied instead, which was her way of saying it wasn't up for debate.

When Rose had left, Jamie got his phone out to see if there was any more news and caught the beginning of a press conference. There was Alec, right in the centre, promising whoever was responsible would be caught.

"Hope you have more luck this time around pal," Jamie stared at the image.

Was Rose right and she'd not seen Alec since the wedding and it was pure bad luck the Sandbrook killer had walked free? It had been at the back of his mind though, Alec leaving the conservatory that night and when Rose had been messing around when they were all dancing, making Daisy laugh. Had she done it just for the teenager's amusement?

Rose had got home and was tempted to call Alec but it would just make things worse, were Jamie to follow her home. She switched on the TV as they were showing the press interview again, making Rose feel sorry for poor Alec. He looked tired but she thought that was only to be expected after the day he would have just had.

Alec was tired, he just wanted to get back to his hotel room and hope the owner wouldn't quiz him for ages about what had happened. He'd noticed she'd been missing the night before but she had pointed out she took a couple of hours off and he wasn't bothered anyway.

Then when he finally escaped the press conference, having avoided a certain London reporter who must have had her bags already packed the moment word had got out earlier, he thought this time, the killer wasn't going to get away. For one thing, Tess was miles away and another, maybe he could call Rose and ask for her help.

Chapter 19

Alec leaned back on the bed, after getting his phone out of his jacket pocket. Should he risk calling Rose or just Torchwood in general? No, he had to face his demons and get over this nonsense about her. She had got married, in front of him and that was that. He had to let it be or risk Jamie coming down on him like a ton of bricks.

He stared at his phone, cursing himself for even daring to put her number in his contacts. He'd convinced himself he'd left it there in case Daisy wanted it, like she'd ever lose or forget it, since it was probably engraved on her brain after all the excitement of Rose and Jamie sending her wedding photos the public were not privy to on that video chat app she'd tried to teach him to use.

He scrolled through his contacts and stopped at Rose's name and number. Should he call or delete it? Maybe he'd be best deleting it and have done with it? That would be the most sensible thing he'd done since he'd met her over a year ago.

There had been no more news about her, well nothing new anyway. The papers re-hashed wedding photos every now and then in case anyone out of the seven billion people on the planet had dared to miss them the first time around.

He'd only just managed to stop his daughter going on about the wedding on the weekends they met up and then he'd had to insist and offer to pay for her to have them printed off at a photo shop's automated machine. He suddenly jumped as his phone rang but he was annoyed it was Tess.

What had he expected after the events of the day? That Rose herself would call with the offer of help?

"Alec, what's going on down there?" Tess wanted to know.

"As if you did not know Tess," he replied.

"It's typical of you to walk into another child being found Alec. What were the chances of that?" she then wanted to know.

"Your point being?" he replied. "Get on with it Tess, I've had a hell of a day. The DS I'm working with has not stopped reminding me that I took her job from her."

"You never?" Tess almost laughed. "No wonder she's pissed off at you then? So, have you established what happened or have you been too busy arguing who's going to be in charge?"

"Stop it Tess. Watch the main news later on at ten, you'll find out just as much as everyone else, won't you?"

"Don't take it out on me Alec," Tess reminded him. "Well, who's the victim?"

"Eleven year old Danny Latimer, lived in the town. He was found on the beach but he wasn't killed there, we've established that," he admitted.

Well he thought the chances were slim the boy had been killed there, judging by the way the body had been laid out on display. It was like the killer was a bit of an amateur but knew some things, enough to try and throw them off.

"We're just waiting for forensics to finish up and CCTV to be collected from cameras owned by businesses," he added, to convince her they were already doing what they could. "He did a paper round, I'm going to walk his route in the morning, see where it took him."

"It's not likely it's someone who got the wrong paper delivered Alec," Tess started her usual sarcasm.

"Was there anything else Tess? I'm tired, I got woken early this morning," he just replied, instead of giving her chance to go on at him.

He thought he was over Tess going on at him.

"I suppose there's no possibility of any connection to your last case?" she asked out of the blue.

"Not unless the Ashworth's have changed their style," he replied. "Does Daisy know?"

"Yes, she's a bit upset, since she knows it's similar to your last case. I don't suppose you'll be coming up next weekend unless you clear it up quickly?" Tess then asked him.

"I will call her and explain," Alec told her.

"Why don't you call Torchwood and see if they can offer any help Alec, since you're well in with them?" she then suggested.

"There's nothing they can do Tess, don't even go there," he warned her.

Since it was getting late and he had to go out early the next morning, he put his phone on the bedside table and went into the bathroom. No, he'd have to mange without any help from Rose or Torchwood, if he was to stay sane, Rose would just be a distraction and she may bring Jamie with her. Then what? He'd achieve nothing

It was late and there was no sign of Jamie as Rose tried calling him.

"I'm sorry Miss Tyler," the night security officer on reception was telling her. "There's no answer from his desk phone. I can try his work mobile for you."

"No, it's okay Carl, I've tried both his mobiles. Can ya check if he's still logged into his computer?"

She waited but she already knew the answer. Jamie was sulking that Alec was in the news again, for all the wrong reasons. She had thought she might get a call but maybe Alec didn't want to cause any trouble. Well he had, whether intentional or not, Jamie had seen the newspaper headlines and was blowing off some steam before he came home by burying himself in his work.

Well she hoped that was it. Carl had got back to her.

"He's still logged in Miss Tyler. Should I get someone to check on him?" the guard offered.

She and Jamie knew the night security, Jake had hand-picked them for the job.

"Yeah, can they tell him to get his ass home?" Rose laughed. "We're supposed to be going off for the weekend."

"I'll have them call you back when he's been told. They should use those exact words?" Carl sounded serious.

"Yeah and that they came from me," Rose agreed.

Jamie was blowing off some steam after he'd insisted Rose went home. He had a lot to think about but why was he still jealous of someone who had come to their wedding over a year ago? Then there was Rose, going on about starting a family. When had all that started? Jackie hadn't yet given him a lecture about how she wanted to be a grandmother, which she would have done. Unless Rose had told her not to go on about it?

He stopped what he was doing when he heard a noise outside, possibly a security patrol, he thought. They would probably stick their heads around the doorway and ask if everything was okay, nothing got past Jake's men anyway. Well not unless those creatures Rose had told him about decided to invade and materialise in front of him.

Then he'd only get worried if the Cybermen also came back and declared war on them. He laughed to himself and looked up as two security officers were watching him.

"Hey fellas, what's up?" he greeted them.

"Good evening Doctor Smith. Everything okay with you?" the larger of the two asked him.

"Fine. Oh, my wife called, right?" Jamie then grinned, looking at his phone and seeing he'd left it on silent. "Bet she told you to kick my ass home?

"Those exact words," both men replied.

"Ah, sorry, didn't realise the time," Jamie used the excuse. "You know what it's like? Okay, I'm going."

Rose was happy when she got a call back to say Jamie had been reminded to get himself home but she knew Jake wouldn't let her forget she'd had to call in the first place. She had just gone in the bedroom when she heard the outer door opening.

"Rose, where are you?" Jamie called as he locked the door and threw his keys down on the side table. "Got a bit carried away after you left, sorry love."

Rose waited then stood in the bedroom doorway, in her nightdress and silky robe.

"I shouldn't have had to get someone to check on ya Jamie," she reminded him.

"Then why did you Rose? So we can have another discussion about starting a family?" he wanted to know.

"What is it you have against the subject?" Rose wondered as she sat in front of the mirror and picked her hairbrush up. "If ya don't wanna go off tomorrow, we'll stay home or go some place else."

"Such as Broadchurch?" he replied, throwing his jacket over the purple velvet chair, followed by his tie.

Rose had always thought he was messier than the Doctor sometimes and there was no Tardis to clean up after Jamie. She wasn't going to get pulled into this argument, she decided.

"There are plenty of other places on the south coast Jamie," she reminded him.

"Southend, Bognor to start with."

Jamie made a face.

"Who makes up the names of some of the places?" he asked as he took his shirt off, which usually got a response from his wife.

He knew he was in trouble as she remained seated, with the brush still in her hand.

"Okay, I'm sorry I didn't come home earlier Rose. I thought if I stayed late, we could take Monday off as well?"

Rose wondered if she'd got it wrong but she somehow doubted it.

"Well maybe? Jamie, I was worried you were avoiding me," she admitted.

"No, it wasn't that love," he replied, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "You're not going to chase me with that brush, are you?" he then laughed.

"Not unless ya want me to?" she teased him. "Sorry, I'm just a bit off. I mean when I saw what happened earlier. Why did it have to happen where Alec had just moved to? I wonder how long he's been there?"

Jamie wondered what difference that made. The event would have taken place, no matter how long the detective had been there.

"Forget it Rose, Pete won't send anyone to help, it's just down to Alec to solve it on his own. Well unless there's evidence of alien activity," he then laughed, hoping to take her mind off it.

He knew of only one thing at present to take her mind off the current events and that meant being serious about starting a family. Then he realised he was being cornered when she'd suggested going off for the weekend. Well, wasn't she being the sneaky one?

Was that going to be the only thing to get her to forget about Alec Hardy as well? He was well and truly stuck, she knew it. Maybe he should just make things easier for her or had that been on his mind earlier when he knew full well what the time was?

Unless she got her own way and they had a baby, she was never going to give up. It must be her way of saying she was committed to himself as long as they started a family but did he want it that way? Did he want to be cornered like that?

He knew she wanted this weekend away from everything but why had Alec Hardy have to come into the equation at the last minute? She had chosen it to get them in the mood, he knew what time of the month it was, he kept up with that so he was prepared for her change in mood.

"Well, do I cancel in the morning?" Rose wanted to know as she got into bed.

"We might as well go," he agreed reluctantly. "I don't think our presence in Broadchurch will be appreciated unless we turn up with a load of alien tech?"

Rose wasn't sure if he was joking or not, when it came to being jealous. She'd had enough experience of it. She could justify not telling him more about The Doctor, she had no idea what he would do if he ever found out everything so it had to remain a well guarded secret.

She supposed she'd been thankful Mickey had never said anything. Jamie was bad enough Mickey had been her old boyfriend, she had no choice but to remain silent. Jamie got into bed and lay with his hands behind his head, like he was thinking. Rose often wished he'd stop doing things that reminded her of the time she'd spent with the Doctor.

"One thing Rose," Jamie finally broke the silence. "Let's not argue tomorrow, okay? I mean over starting a family. We'll both know when it's time, won't we?"

Rose thought he had no idea how she felt about it, did he? She shouldn't have to keep going on about it, he should take the hint and at least consider it. Not wanting to hold a grudge, she lay on her side and put her arm across him, noticing he'd put a t-shirt on.

They set off the next morning and booked into the hotel, just as Alec had got back from walking the paper round of the deceased boy. DS Miller greeted him with a carton of coffee she'd brought in with her. He just grunted as he took it from her.

"There's another CCTV camera overlooking a hut, on the side of the cliff. Do you know where that is?" he asked as Ellie Miller stared at him.

Ellie thought no wonder they'd been keen to get rid of him at his last job, he didn't give anyone a chance to say anything. She could have sworn he was the one from the Sandbrook case but what would he be doing here, apart from stealing her promotion from her?

Had he been sent here just to annoy her if no-one else was willing to take him? His name sounded familiar other than that though. Hadn't there been a young girl with that surname in all the papers about being the bridesmaid of the Vitex heiress? She pitied the poor girl for her father spoiling the headlines with his own that he'd let a killer walk free.

"Yes, I know where you mean, up on Briar Cliff," Ellie replied, snapping out of it. "What were you doing up there – Sir? Was it on Danny's paper round?"

Alec thought of saying no, he was out for the exercise but changed his mind, it would just make her worse.

"Oh, the newsagent called to say he remembered something," she then told him.

Alec got up and went for his coat. Why was he even putting it on? He should have ditched it before he got it back from the cleaners, after it had been taken off him when he'd got Pippa out of the river. He'd thought of calling Rose, to say it had been him but she had probably already known who it had been. Had he mentioned it at her wedding?

He took the piece of paper from his DS and waited to see if she followed him. They were just leaving when the chief stopped them.

"Alec, a word," the chief hinted for him to remain.

"I'll wait downstairs," Ellie decided, thinking she wasn't wanted.

"How are you coping so far?" Alec was then asked.

"Fine, why would I not be coping?" he replied. "Has DS Miller made a complaint?"

"She's not happy about things," the chief admitted. "I stuck my neck out to accept your transfer Alec, she's bound to be resentful. I need your reassurance you can handle this, after Sandbrook.

"That's why you need me on this," Alec told her. "Would DS Miller be able to handle a murder investigation?"

He saw the look on the chief's face.

"Don't let me down Alec. You'll have more staff from Monday, they're being brought in from surrounding areas. Be ready for them," she suggested.

He caught up with his DS and they went to interview the newsagent, Alec thinking it was a waste of time but they went off in search of the postman, who had been seen arguing with the boy a week or so previously. By the time they got back, there were wires everywhere and a phone engineer was caught snooping around a desk.

"What are you doing?" Ellie wanted to know.

"Ah, fitting new phone lines," the engineer looked surprised.

Ellie gave him a warning then went to Alec's office. As they were arguing over something, there was a knock on the door and Ellie got up.

"Have you finished?" Ellie wanted to know when she saw who it was.

"It's not that. You're investigating that boy's death," the engineer stated.

"Why are you asking?" Alec wondered, taking his glasses off and rubbing his face.

"It's about Danny. He wants you to know he was put in a boat," the engineer told them.

"There are dozens of boats out there," Ellie reminded the man.

"He lived by the sea, he is bound to have been in one," Alec told the man.

"No, you don't get it," the man insisted. "After he was killed."

Alec got up to confront the engineer.

"Who told you that?" he wanted to know.

"Danny told me," came the man's reply.

"Get him down to the interview room," Alec told his new DS.

"You think he can tell us something Sir?" Ellie sounded surprised.

"If he's not making it up," Alec replied. "You go ahead, I'm going to call an expert. Is it written down anywhere that Danny may have been put in a boat?"

"No Sir, no-one's even suggested such a thing," Ellie told him. "You think he could have been put on the beach after being transported from where he died?"

"You tell me Miller? He was not killed on the beach but the question remains as to where he was killed. Have someone chase up that CCTV footage from where I was earlier and find out who owns that cottage."

The phone engineer was waiting outside Alec's office but he knew he had them. It had suddenly come into his mind and they might believe him, that was if they didn't call Torchwood in. Then he'd get some recognition and write another book and this time, people would buy it, this was a high-profile case, unlike the others.

"Which do you want first?" Ellie forgot to call him 'Sir'.

"Just get someone on both Miller. If Danny wasn't killed on the beach, what better place than a remote cottage on the top of a cliff? The CCTV may have captured Danny and his killer up there on Thursday night."

"Sir, you want me to take the phone engineer downstairs before or after carrying out your orders?" Ellie dared ask.

Alec just looked at her and she knew the answer, she would just have to get used to his way of working. He then got his mobile out of his pocket. He'd made a note of the Torchwood number after the wedding, in case he ever needed them.

"Who did you say you were calling?" Ellie wondered who the expert was and why they needed one.

"Think about it Miller. We said nothing of Danny not being killed on the beach. Either the phone engineer is the killer or he guessed about the boat being involved. My bet is the latter but we have to make sure. That is why I am calling the experts in. I'm going to call Torchwood, Miller."

Chapter 20

Rose and Jamie were just packing the car, Rose trying not to get mad that Jamie wanted to drive when he was still in a mood.

"There's no rush to get there Jamie," Rose tried to tell him when he told her to hurry.

"I know but why waste time here when we can spend the time there, on the beach?" he wanted to know. "You do want to go on the beach?"

"Well yeah, that was the point of going Jamie," Rose replied.

"Geez Rose, if you don't want to lie on the beach in your bikini, you only have to say," he told her.

She felt like saying exactly that, if he was going to be in a mood. The last time they'd been anywhere, he'd chased her into the sea trying to splash her.

"I don't wanna spend all the weekend on the beach Jamie," Rose finally replied after they had set off.

"Fine, have it your way Rose," he gave in, clinging hold of the steering wheel. "Oh and can we please not talk about what's going on down in Broadchurch, eh?" he added.

"I wasn't gonna Jamie," Rose insisted, determined he wasn't going to win this game he seemed to be playing, that of bringing up the fact Alec was in charge of the case and there was no getting away from the fact.

Ellie Miller was still not impressed with the way her new boss was handling things. Did the man ever stop barking a dozen orders all at the same time? She had gone back to her desk after getting a uniformed officer to escort the phone engineer downstairs and wondered what Hardy was up to. Why would Torchwood be interested?

Alec had been put through to an agent, hoping he could use the fact that Rose had told him he could ring any time.

"Yes, this is DI Hardy, Wessex police. I have a murder down here in Broadchurch and during the investigation, something has come up regarding a man who claims that the victim has contacted him," Alec explained when asked the nature of his call.

"I see then, detective inspector," the male agent was telling him. "Can you give more details?"

Alec repeated what had taken place and waited for the agent to tell him they couldn't get involved.

"So, this man claims the boy told him he'd been put in a boat but the police have not yet determined the fact?" Alec was asked.

"I know it sounds vague but I was hoping you may have heard of such a thing before?" Alec replied. "Maybe you have heard of this man, his name is," Alec stopped to put his glasses on to see what Ellie Miller had hurriedly scribbled down. "Ah, the name is Steve Connolly."

"I will have to look the name up," the agent told him. "So, he was caught glancing at papers on desks?"

Alec knew where this was going already. If it hadn't been for the fact Rose had told him if anything bothered him for him to get in touch, he wouldn't have bothered.

"No, before you say anything, the officer concerned had not left anything in view, the man had moved several papers and was purposely snooping," Alec insisted.

"Just one moment while I look up the name then," the agent then told him.

Alec waited, wishing they would just hurry up. Ellie knocked on his office door to ask if he was ready to interview the man just taken away.

"I am waiting to find out if Connolly is known to Torchwood," Alec told her. "If not, they can investigate him for us and save us the time. They can also then warn him to stay out of the way of a murder investigation."

"You mean you hope they can – Sir," Ellie replied, thinking he was just wishful thinking and Torchwood would tell him to handle it himself. "We should be getting down to interview him, or he may decide he wants a solicitor."

Alec didn't need reminding of that. He had to wait a bit longer, listening to boring music before the agent got back to him. The agent had consulted the Torchwood database but found nothing on Steve Connelly but was making an entry to watch out for the man in the future and that he'd tried interfering with a murder investigation.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Sir," the agent apologised to Alec. "We don't have anything on the man but I've made a note of it. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Alec felt like saying a fat lot of good that was going to do him.

"Well can you investigate the man?" Alec wanted to know. "I really don't have time to deal with someone who claims he's spoken to a recently deceased boy. I can see this man is going to be trouble and keep coming back if we ignore him."

"I understand your concern, detective inspector," the agent sympathised. "I can speak to my supervisor and get back to you. Given the circumstances, I can see how you think this person may just be trying to get some recognition from his interference."

"Exactly," Alec agreed. "Then I would appreciate some help from Torchwood in keeping this man in check. We have to concentrate on how the boy died, not some fake who says a dead boy told him he'd been put in a boat."

"I see then?" the agent replied. "Then I will make it a priority to get my supervisor to call you personally. Please expect a call later today, when we hope we can resolve this for you. Was there anything else we can do for you?"

Alec wanted to say yes, get Rose herself to call him back or did Rose no longer work for Torchwood? He knew she'd taken time off to plan her wedding but had she gone back?

"If you could just do that, that's all I ask," he said instead. "Does Rose Tyler still work there by any chance?"

"I'm sorry Sir, we can't say about senior agents," was the reply.

"Look, I was at her wedding, my daughter is a friend of Miss Tyler's so now can you tell me?" Alec got annoyed.

"I apologise Sir but we get asked questions like that all the time," the agent apologised. "Yes, she does still work at Torchwood but she is not an active agent."

So, Rose was still working with Jamie then, Alec pondered.

"I see then?" was all Alec could say.

"Should I pass a message to her telling her you called?" the agent wanted to know.

"No, it's fine," Alec thought better of it in case her husband got to know about it. "If you could just get your supervisor to call, I may have more information for you by then."

Ellie was getting tired of waiting and saw he was still on the phone. So, what did he think Torchwood was going to do over the man downstairs, who was surely a crank. Alec suddenly got up and opened his office door.

"Come on Miller, let's get this interview over with, then you can go home."

Ellie got up in shock. So, he did know it was a Saturday and she didn't normally work at weekends? She was going to say she was the one who had been waiting for him to get off the phone.

Alec had left his mobile number with the Torchwood agent but hoped the man kept his word and didn't let Rose know he'd called and asked for her.

"Do you think Connolly is a crank then?" Ellie dared ask him on the way down.

"What do you think Miller? I know he moved papers out of the way to find information he could use but I hope he found none?" Alec replied.

"He couldn't have seen much, I caught him before he could look for more," Ellie insisted.

After advising Connolly of his rights and getting him to state his address, Alec soon found out the man didn't know much.

"So, you don't know Danny or the family?" Alec asked the man.

"Ah, no, I don't think so," Connolly admitted.

"Then why claim Danny told you he'd been put in a boat?" Alec wanted to know. "Was that before or after he was killed?"

"You think it's funny," Connolly dared tell Alec. "I get these messages, I don't choose to get them but I couldn't ignore this one."

"So, all he said was about a boat?" Ellie wanted to make sure.

"Get him out of here Miller," Alec told her when he'd had enough.

Connolly was just leaving when he turned back to Alec.

"She forgives you, about the pendant," he told Alec.

"What?" Alec stopped. "What does that mean?"

"You know, I can see it. That and someone you know will come back."

Alec shook his head as the man was led out.

"What did he mean Sir?" Ellie asked him.

"Never mind Miller. Just keep him away from the Latimers," Alec warned her.

Alec thought if the man meant Rose, then yes, he did want her to come visit him but would she think this was important enough? He set off for his hotel and had just got to his room when his phone rang. He stared at the caller display and saw it was Torchwood.

"DI Hardy?" a female voice asked when he answered. "You were asking about a certain person?"

"Yes, someone who claims he has psychic abilities in no uncertain terms," Alec replied. "There is no other explanation for him to be snooping around on desks and claiming to have spoken to a dead child. I find it rather disturbing."

"Yes, of course, it's only natural," the agent told him. "Do you have any more information so we can fully check him out?"

"Only that he still insists he's telling the truth. I do not want him giving the family any grief," Alec replied. "I was hoping Torchwood would be aware of him?"

"No, we've not come across him but I can promise you, we will send agents down there, keeping out of your way, of course," Alec was assured. "We will get to the bottom of it if he's telling the truth or not. Would you be able to keep us up to date with the latest developments?"

"You mean if we actually discover the boy was in a boat after he was killed?" Alec wondered. "That would prove Connolly was right and I was too hasty to seek Torchwood's help."

"No, detective inspector, you were right to turn this man away until you gather the facts," he was assured. "You have a job to do and this man is getting in your way. We can deal with him for you and if we find he was right, we can keep him from retaliating and claiming you didn't listen to him. If he is right, he may try and seek some kind of fame and give his side of the story that you dismissed him.

Alec wondered how they knew what he was hoping the agency could do but this was Torchwood after all.

"Then I would appreciate anything you can do," Alec replied.

"That's what we're here for, to help fellow agencies," the supervisor told him. "We'll be in touch, just leave everything to us. Was there anything else you needed help with?"

"Well, there was just one thing," Alec thought he may as well include.

After all, if Rose took an interest in what went on there, she'd find out he'd called.

"Would this be mentioned to Miss Tyler herself?" he asked.

"Not normally, unless things escalate. If we have trouble with the man, she may take an interest herself. I could let her know about it, if you wish?"

"Ah, maybe not yet?" Alec changed his mind.

What would Rose say about being told he had a crank to deal with and he couldn't handle it himself?

"We'll let you know how things go but hopefully, after a visit from our agents, you won't have any more trouble with Mister Connolly."

Alec just hoped the agent was right. Would it get as far as Rose's attention? Not if it was resolved quickly and he didn't hear from Connolly again. Was he secretly hoping Connolly would take no notice and then Rose would get involved?

Down in Brighton, Rose and Jamie were sat on the pier, having a drink and Rose watching the rides.

"We can go on later, when they're all lit up," Jamie suggested.

"That's if they're open late?" Rose wondered.

Was he just trying to get out of going on?

"We should be getting back to the hotel anyway," Jamie then told her. "You can catch up on the news."

Rose knew what he meant by that.

"There's no rush Jamie," she insisted. "Why did ya even mention it?"

"You know why Rose. Don't you want to know if they found that boy's killer yet?" he replied.

Rose got up.

"I'm going to the ladies room," she huffed. "Geez, Jamie, it's not a crime to watch the news ya know?"

She knew why his mood had changed but he was the one who had brought it up, not her. Jamie watched her go off, wondering if he should ease up a bit. Tony wasn't much younger than the boy who had died so she was concerned but why had Alec Hardy been put in charge?

Rose would be following the case even more closely with knowing the detective in charge. He could tell she'd probably try to get Torchwood involved in some way. Maybe someone would try to interfere with the investigation by claiming to be psychic, he laughed to himself at the prospect. Then Rose would volunteer to take the case herself, never mind the work they were continuing.

She'd then find some excuse to go down to the place the murder happened and work alongside the police, Alec Hardy to be precise. He had to face it, Alec hadn't gone away when he'd gone home after the wedding, he was just waiting for a way to creep back and get Rose's attention.

Why had he never bothered asking Rose what had taken place before he'd seen Alec leaving the conservatory? He'd just settled for her saying Alec had just been looking for his daughter. Maybe he should have insisted Rose told him everything but it was too late now.

They went back to the hotel for a rest before going down to dinner, Rose wishing she'd brought more dresses with her had she known the hotel was a bit posh. She thought she might sneak to the shops in the morning and get something for tomorrow night. Maybe she'd let Jamie choose, it might lighten his mood a little. There again, he'd only let up when Alec was out of the news again.

"Jamie, ya did book Monday off?" Rose suddenly wondered.

"Yeah, did it before I left," he replied, thinking she didn't trust him to do so. "I said we'd be in late on Tuesday as well, if we leave early on Tuesday morning, we can go straight to work. Bet you didn't think of that Rose?"

"Well, it makes sense. Come on Jamie, ya all tense, what's really wrong with ya?" she wanted to know.

She put her hands on his shoulders after hanging her dress up.

"Nothing," he insisted.

"Are ya gonna get changed?" she changed the subject, looking at his jeans and purple t-shirt.

"I suppose so?" he thought he'd maybe better and trust her to find a posh hotel.

She kissed his cheek and went back to the wardrobe to decide between the two dresses. Now, she did need another one if they were staying another night.

"Hey, we'd better make sure the room's free for another night," she then realised.

Jamie picked up the room phone and thought he'd better check.

"Rose, I thought you were going to book a long weekend?"

"I thought we'd be here last night," Rose laughed, putting a dress away.

After checking they were okay to stay an extra night, Rose went to get a shower before getting changed and Jamie put the TV on. Of course, Alec Hardy was on the news, giving a press conference.

"I still bet you're gonna call Rose for help," he thought out loud.

Rose came back out, wrapped in a towel and one on her head.

"Oh. Is that from last night?" Rose wondered.

"Don't think so," Jamie replied, his feet on the small coffee table. "He's been asked a load of questions. This woman's been on giving him a hard time."

"Aw, poor Alec," Rose sympathised.

"He can take care of himself Rose," Jamie told her. "Are you thinking of offering help?"

She knew he was going to keep asking.

"Not me but if he wants Torchwood's help, he'll call, same as any other senior police officer. Dad said he'd give help if asked," she reminded him. "I'm not on the active list and you know it Jamie."

He bet it wouldn't stop Alec from asking if she'd get involved.

Alec had finally got away from the press conference, glad it was over since people had found out where he'd just come from. He caught up with the chief before she left.

"You did well fending off awkward questions Alec," the chief had noted.

"How many new officers are you expecting on Monday?" he asked her.

"A dozen or so, more if they can be spared," she replied. "Why do you ask? Alec, people will lose interest if the killer isn't found soon and the resources will be scaled back. You know that already."

"What if we had outside help?"

He saw her reaction.

"Tell me you don't mean Torchwood Alec? What can they do?" she asked him.

"Did you see the report from earlier? It's day two of a murder investigation and the cranks are out already. We don't have the time for one, let alone any more who come crawling out," Alec told her. "Torchwood can keep them away. I just need your approval, I already contacted them, they are willing to help."

"Really Alec, the chief constable for the area disapproves of them. You should have checked with me, with you being new around here," she reminded him. "Don't let him find out that you're using them so no complaints from this person who came forward this morning."

"They can take care of him and warn him off," Alec was confidant.

"As long as they stay out of the way, you'll be responsible for them," the chief warned him. "You had better hope they don't send their top agents Alec. The press would just love Rose Tyler to come to town."

"She is no longer an active agent," Alec admitted.

"You sound disappointed Alec," the chief smiled as there was hardly anyone left in the school hall. "Oh, you already asked for her?"

"I just enquired if she would get to know I had requested help," he had to further admit. "My daughter made friends with her, we were at her wedding last year. She may take an interest but stay back."

"Be careful Alec, if she gets involved, the media will soon catch on. Don't let her come to town," the chief advised him.

"She may not even get involved," Alec reminded her.

If Rose did come to town, what then? If there was any more trouble from Steve Connolly, she'd get another agent to help and that may also bring Jamie to town. Then there would be a showdown, involving himself and Rose would be caught in the middle of it.

Chapter 21

Alec lay back on the hotel bed, his arms behind his head. No, he had to redeem himself and find the killer on his own. Torchwood wouldn't get involved anyway, they'd not offered last time and it wasn't a good idea to see Rose again.

Why couldn't he stop thinking about her? Jamie finally got home but used the excuse he'd lost track of time, which Rose had to believe. They set off the following morning and were soon checking into the hotel and Rose wanted to go explore the pier and the rides at the end.

"We should have brought Tony," Jamie remarked as most of the rides were closed until later in the afternoon.

"Maybe another time we can just come for the day?" Rose wondered, disappointed she had to wait to go on the Ferris Wheel.

She thought that was just typical of him. He spent far too much time with her younger brother at weekends. He should be concentrating on having kids of his own. The weekend didn't go too badly, they went off the following day then were preparing to leave on the Monday morning.

"If you're going to be unpacking and doing the laundry, I may as well go to work," Jamie decided. "I don't want to get in the way."

Rose knew he was like The Doctor, he didn't do domestics very well and she'd had to train him to work the washing machine more than once.

"Fine but don't work late again, will ya?" Rose asked him.

"Don't worry about it Rose, if I'm not back, I have a lot of work to do," he replied.

Was work becoming more important than her or thinking of starting a family? While their love life was really good when they got to bed, she wasn't sure why he always seemed to hold back but put it down to him being tired.

Alec hadn't had a very good weekend. He'd had problems with a man claiming to have been contacted by the murdered boy and had thought maybe he was justified calling Torchwood so he took a gamble when he got back to the office of calling Rose's work number but was told she wasn't available.

He thought maybe she was busy or seeing her parents and didn't want to try her personal number. Why she'd given it to Daisy, he didn't know but he had sneakily got it from his daughter on the pretence of having it were Daisy to accidentally delete it.

It wasn't any better for him on Monday morning, having his DS do a briefing to new staff, which he thought wasn't very inspiring and told her so afterwards.

"Don't do that to me again," Ellie Miller complained as he made himself a drink.

"Well you wanted to be in charge," Alec reminded her. "What time is Mark Latimer coming in?"

"Why did you call him in?" she wanted to know. "Do you know what it's doing to the family?"

"He won't give his whereabouts for when his son was killed," Alec replied. "That worries me that he can't remember who he was with."

"He's confused, what do you expect?" Ellie asked him. "He got confused with the night he was working late."

"Well, to change from working to going out with a mate whose name he can't remember is strange," Alec told her. "Tell me when he arrives."

He went back to his office and started to find Rose's number in his contacts. Would she be annoyed and tell him to call Torchwood? He backed out and dialled the number he'd found for the reception, asking if they had anyone who could deal with psychics.

"Yes, we have agents who deal with them," he was told. "What can we help you with?"

Alec explained what they'd been told by the telephone engineer on Saturday and that if he had any more trouble, he could call for someone to deal with the man.

"Then if you call back, we can have someone with you in a few hours. Just give us the details," the woman told him.

"Thank you. I don't suppose Miss Tyler deals with this kind of thing?" he asked hopefully. "I know her through my daughter, who was one of Miss Tyler's bridesmaids."

"I'm sorry, Miss Tyler is on leave until tomorrow but she doesn't deal with your kind of problem. I can tell her you called when she gets back," the woman suggested.

"No, leave it for now. I'm sure your agents can deal with the problem," Alec decided.

No, he didn't have the courage to call her after all. What was wrong with him? It wasn't like he was asking her on a date or anything but calling her because something was beyond him seemed trivial. Ellie knocked on the door to tell him that Mark Latimer was downstairs and in an interview room.

"Are you making this formal?" Ellie wanted to know, looking displeased with him that he'd dared to include the boy's father as a suspect.

"If I have to," he replied, pressing the lift button and Ellie thinking he was being lazy since they were only going down one floor.

"Had you heard of that psychic before?" he asked her as the stepped into the lift, pressing the ground floor button, twice Ellie noticed.

"Why would I? He's not a local," Ellie replied. "You do know the town consists of more than the harbour?"

Alec shook his head as the lift arrived in reception and Ellie got out first. The interview with Mark Latimer didn't go well, with him being detained while they went off to see Nigel Carter, whom Mark had called earlier to give him an alibi, since he'd been with the local hotel owner on the night in question, in the back of her tiny car.

Ellie had gone inside to calm Nigel's mother down while Alec tried to get the truth out of the man. Ellie soon learned Nigel was making up a story to cover for his boss.

"Stop messing about Nigel," Ellie faced the two men who were going head to head. "Your mother said you only went out for last orders."

"I think you had better come with us," Alec told Nigel.

So, not only had Alec to deal with the phone engineer, he had to deal with a cover-up and couldn't call Torchwood over this one. When Mark was detained overnight for not being willing to say who he was really with, he finally got back to his hotel, wishing he had someone to talk to.

He bet Rose would understand his problem. He hadn't wanted to lock the boy's father up but he'd had no choice. The chief had questioned him about it but he'd persuaded her he needed to get to the truth and it was only about who was where on the night in question.

Jamie had buried himself in his work, not really in the mood for it but it was better than facing Rose. Yes, the weekend hadn't been too bad but he knew she'd had other things on her mind, like planning a family and Alec Hardy, who by the sound of it was having a rough time. He'd accessed the police website to get more news than the public did and knew if Rose had done the same, she'd pack up and go to help the detective.

Why had the man's daughter been chosen as a bridesmaid, then been invited to stay the weekend? Maybe he should just go and leave her to it? He could go to a hotel tonight, then go get his stuff when Rose set off for work the next morning? He needed to think about this and he didn't think he could just come out and accuse Rose of having her mind on Alec Hardy and not him.

Jackie would take Rose's side so there was no point in talking to her and Pete would also take Rose's side. He packed his stuff from his desk and left just after nine before security threw him out, probably on Rose's orders. He handed his ID in at the desk, not that he usually did but the man behind it said nothing.

Getting into his car, he stopped to locate a nearby hotel and made sure they had vacancies. He would decide what to do in the morning so checking in and getting his key-card, he entered the room and lay on the bed.

When Jamie didn't return by nine, Rose started to call him to see where he was. All she got was his recorded message, Jamie ignoring it when he saw her name come up. She waited another two hours, then decided to go to bed, thinking he really was stuck at work and forgotten to get himself home. She was sure he'd wake her up when he crawled into bed.

The next morning, Rose really did wonder where he was and tried calling him again but thought he would probably be using the facilities at Torchwood to freshen himself up but when she got there, he wasn't at his desk so she called Jake to ask if he'd seen him.

"He didn't go home?" Jake almost didn't believe her. "Sorry, I've not seen him this morning." Then he realised what had been in the papers the last few days. "He saw the news then?"

"Don't you start Jake," Rose told him. "He mentioned it a few times over the weekend and ya know we went off for a few days."

"Tell me you never went there," Jake had to laugh.

"Stop it Jake, it's not funny," Rose scalded him.

"Sorry. I can put out for anyone who sees him to tell him to switch his phone on?" Jake suggested.

"No, it's okay, I'll give him a bit longer Jake. He's probably sulking if Alec Hardy's in the news again. What is it with him?" Rose wondered.

"Ya know it's the jealousy bug Rose," Jake reminded her. "You'd best tell Pete that there could be a problem or do ya want me to tell him?" he offered.

"No, it's okay, I'll go up and see him and Jamie had better be here when I get back," Rose replied.

She went up to Pete's office and his secretary told her to go right in.

"Had a good weekend?" Pete greeted her as Rose helped herself to coffee.

"Yeah, apart from a certain person deciding to hit the headlines," Rose sighed as she sat on the leather couch.

Pete got up to join her.

"Come on Rose, what's going on?" he asked her. "Is Jamie that jealous?"

"I thought he was over it Dad," Rose replied.

"I saw Alec coming from the direction of your room that morning," Pete revealed.

"What?" Rose was concerned. "What do ya mean by that Dad?"

"Calm down Rose, I was just saying," Pete defended himself. "What if Jamie found out?"

"Dad, Alec was only looking for Jamie and Tony, mum had sent him to get them," Rose explained.

"See, you could have said," Pete smiled and squeezed her hand when she put the coffee mug on the table.

"What was I supposed to say that morning?" Rose asked him.

"Never mind, I doubt anyone saw Alec apart from me so Jamie couldn't have found out," Pete replied. "What about later? I noticed Alec was watching Tony during the service. Was there anything else?"

Rose dare not admit Alec was talking to her in the conservatory. What would he make of that if he was already suspicious, she decided.

"Just later, we were messin' around taking photos with Daisy and Alec came to find her," was all she would admit. "Geez, Jamie couldn't have been jealous of that, could he?"

"I don't know Rose, really I don't. Look, if Jamie's not around by this afternoon, I'll get some agents on it. I was going to call you anyway, it seems Alec Hardy called reception over the weekend and yesterday. Seems he has a problem with a local telephone engineer who thinks he was contacted by the dead boy."

"Seriously?" Rose tried not to laugh. "Has anyone gone down there?"

"No, not yet and don't get any ideas Rose, it's not your field of expertise," Pete reminded her. "I did ask the weekend staff and apparently on Saturday, he called your work number. Did you give him it?"

"He may have got it from Daisy," Rose admitted. "Why would he call me on a Saturday?"

"You tell me," Pete smiled. "Does Jamie have a reason to be even more jealous?"

"Dad, how was I to know Alec was gonna get my number from Daisy?" Rose asked him. "Why would he ask for me?"

Pete thought it was fairly obvious but Rose couldn't see it.

"Rose. Are you sure you have nothing else to tell me?" Pete asked her again. "You may as well admit anything, if you want me to help you. There has to be a reason Jamie would go missing."

"We don't know he's actually missing Dad," Rose told him.

"If he's not answering his phone to you," Pete replied. "Tell me Rose, did something else take place that day?"

"I was in the conservatory when things were winding down," Rose started to tell him. "Alec wandered in, looking for Daisy and we talked for a few seconds, then he left."

"Why couldn't you have said that?" Pete wanted to know. "Rose, if you're going to be secretive, no wonder Jamie's jealous."

"Dad, Jamie came in a few minutes later and said he'd seen Alec leaving," Rose revealed.

Pete shook his head.

"Rose, you knew Jamie was already jealous," he reminded her.

"I told him Alec was only looking for Daisy. Then we went to where the disco was and joined her and Jamie was taking photos," Rose told him. "I thought Jamie was over it, then Alec was in the news."

"Sorry but it seems to me that Jamie's just cooling down instead of arguing," Pete suggested.

"I hope you're right Dad," Rose leaned on his shoulder. "I really thought it was because Alec looked like him."

"It may have started out as that," Pete replied. "Goodness knows what it is now. Why don't you go home? I'll get someone to drive you."

When she'd collected her things, an agent was waiting to drive her home, another car following them. She wondered if she should call Alec and ask him why he called her and that she wasn't the person to help him. She should forget about him altogether if she had any sense but something was stopping her.

She thanked the agent and went up to the apartment, narrowly missing Jamie. She didn't think of checking the bedroom and if she had done, she would have seen most of his clothes were gone, not that he had much in his wardrobe anyway.

She finally went to bed, after pacing up and down with her phone in her hand, hoping Jamie would call even if it was just to say he'd be back in a few days.

Alec of course had no idea what was going on. Then a few days later, he'd had to warn the psychic about bothering Beth Latimer when she insisted he listened to the man. He'd had Ellie checking up on the man and while she was telling a distraught Beth, he spoke harshly to the phone engineer.

"Get in your van and drive away and do not bother the Latimers again, do you understand?" he asked the man.

"I needed you to listen to me," the man repeated.

"Leave now before I call someone who can really deal with you," Alec promised, tempted to make the call right now.

Then the man looked at him.

"You've been here before," he said to Alec.

"What does that mean?" Alec wanted to know.

"Just that and she forgives you, about the pendant," the man replied.

Alec thought everyone knew about his last failed case so he brushed the man off, grabbing his arm as the man protested.

"Pete here is going to escort you to your vehicle, don't let me catch you around here again," Alec warned him.

He got his phone out, still tempted to call Rose but called the main reception instead. He gave them what he knew about the phone engineer and he was told they would investigate and get back to him.

By Thursday, Rose not returning to work, she packed a bag and drove to her mother's, Jackie greeting her.

"Pete told me some of it Rose," Jackie sympathised. "What happened sweetheart?"

They went to the family room, one of the staff bringing them some tea.

"Jamie's totally crazy because Alec Hardy's been in the news, that's what Mum," Rose told her. "Why did he have to walk into another murder? I didn't even know he'd moved until he hit the headlines."

"Rose, I saw the way Jamie was at the wedding," Jackie reminded her. "Ya know Jamie didn't like the way Alec looked like him."

"Ya sent Alec to find Jamie and Tony Mum, remember?" Rose replied. "Did ya think it was a good idea?"

"He was looking lost, I was just making him feel useful," Jackie defended herself.

"Well that depends how Jamie took it, doesn't it?" Rose asked her, Jackie blushing. "Can I stay a few days? I don't wanna be on my own."

"Yeah, 'course ya can, Tony will be all excited, well except for Jamie not being here. He's out with his nanny, he'll be back soon."

"I'll take my things to my room then. Dad's had agents tryin' to find where Jamie's gone but maybe Alec can help, with being in the police."

"Rose, he's got a murder to solve," Jackie reminded her.

"I know that Mum but he said if ever I needed anything to call him," Rose admitted.

"Well having Alec trying to find Jamie ain't gonna help," Jackie laughed.

Rose went upstairs and retrieved Alec's number, wondering if her mother was right. She hoped Alec had solved his other problem so he could help her with hers. Alec had just got back to his office and fished his phone out of his jacket pocket, getting a surprise when he saw Rose's name.

"Rose. It's very nice to hear from you," he answered when she said hi, "What can I do for you?"

"Alec, it's Jamie, he's been missing since Monday night, we've tried everything to find him. Can you help me?"

"Rose, I have a murderer to catch and the press and my chief are on my back," he told her, regretting it immediately. "I'm sorry, it's just getting to me. I already called Torchwood to get a psychic out of the way."

"Yeah, I know. Please Alec, I don't know what else to do," Rose told him.

"Okay, I will try to get away on Saturday, I can come up there, if you want?" he gave in.

"Thanks, I'm at my mum's. I hope Torchwood can help you and if there's anything else, ya can talk to Pete while you're here."

"Rose, was Jamie off, when he saw the news?" Alec wanted to know.

"Only the usual," Rose tried to laugh it off.

Alec already knew why the man had gone missing and wished now he'd stayed in Sandbrook.

Chapter 22

Alec continued to ask Rose why Jamie would suddenly go off on his own.

"Rose, I have to ask this and trust me, I don't want to," he warned her, already regretting it. "Did he know we were talking in the conservatory that night and outside your room that morning?"

"Pete already asked me that," Rose told him sadly. "Jamie saw ya leaving the conservatory but honestly, he can't have known about outside my room. Besides, what difference would it have made? Pete saw ya coming from that direction but I didn't see any of the staff around, mum was keeping 'em all busy."

"Which was probably why she sent me to get him and Tony," Alec mused. "Rose, is it possible Jamie came back down from the attic room, saw me and rushed back up?"

"How could he have done?" Rose replied. "I really can't understand it. I'm worried he'll do something stupid Alec."

"I understand Rose. I'll be with you some time on Saturday then but I don't know what I can do that your agents can't," Alec promised.

"Get access to the police database?" Rose tried to joke.

"Well, if your agents can help me with that fake psychic, I suppose I owe you?" Alec replied. "Rose, I know you're worried but let me know if he turns up before I get to you eh?"

"Yeah, I will and thanks Alec. I hope Torchwood can help ya," Rose told him.

All she could do now was wait for Alec to arrive, she'd done all she could trying to contact Jamie on her own.

For some reason, Jamie had got in his car on Tuesday and driven up towards Scotland and found a hotel just over the border. Then the following day, deciding to miss the big cities, had driven up towards Fort William and located a hotel just on the edge of the loch.

"Welcome to Fort William, Doctor Smith," the receptionist had told him as he checked in. "How long will you be staying with us?"

"Ah, not sure just yet," Jamie had grinned at her. "That depends but certainly a couple of nights."

He still wasn't answering any calls where he knew who it was, including Jackie, Pete and Jake. He wondered if Rose would even get Mickey the idiot to try to call him but his biggest worry was she would contact Alec Hardy. Who was he trying to fool? Of course she would contact the detective, the man was what all this was about.

He'd always been jealous when any man had dared to look at Rose but it was something else about Alec Hardy. This time it had been the way Rose had looked at the detective, not the other way around. He had lived with the knowledge he himself looked liked someone Rose had once known and knowing that man was totally out of the picture but Alec Hardy was very much around and now back in the news.

They weren't going to be able to avoid him this time and Rose would have forever been checking the news and knowing her, she'd get Pete to send some agents to help find the killer. She may even decide to go down there herself and there would be nothing he could do to stop her so he may as well save himself some bother.

He thought he had always known it would come to this one day, maybe even the impossible happening and her friend would find a way to get back to her. Maybe Rose saw Alec Hardy as a more suitable replacement than himself. He thought he would spend a few days waiting to see if the killer had been caught then if not, decide what was the best thing to do.

While Rose was worth fighting for, he'd already let her know how he felt, now it was up to her.

When Pete had got home after Rose had called Alec, she told him what she'd done.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Pete asked her.

"I don't know what else to do Dad," Rose admitted. "He said he'd come up here at the weekend so can Torchwood do more to help him catch the killer?"

"Rose, I've put agents on it," Pete told her. "He'll have the help he asked for but it's up to him how much help he gets. He has to ask for it."

"Well I hope he asks then," Rose smiled, going to hug him. "Thanks. I hope agents can find Jamie before Alec has to come up here."

"I expect Alec will see it as getting away from the case he's on for a few days," Pete hoped.

Rose wondered what he meant by that. Pete though knew what was in Rose's mind. The wanting to get Alec Hardy involved was a bit of a giveaway and he thought she was making a big mistake getting the detective involved. Jamie may hide away even more if he discovered who she had looking for him.

He had to admit it was partly his fault hiring Jamie in the first place but how was he to know how things were going to turn out and that Rose would come back? They seemed to have coped with Jamie looking like The Doctor but Alec Hardy was a different matter.

Alec sat back and wondered what had made Jamie finally flip and leave Rose. Surely it can't have just been the fact the man was so jealous that a newspaper headline had made him pack up and disappear? Had it been so bad that Jamie was willing to lose everything he'd had with Rose?

Yes, he himself had been jealous of the man and shouldn't have even been thinking about Rose but it had happened and he'd not been able to stop himself. Those meetings though had been totally innocent and unplanned. Yes, he'd been seen leaving the conservatory but Jamie can't have known about earlier in the day and even if he had, the situation had been totally innocent.

He was interrupted by Ellie Miller tapping on the door and letting herself in.

"What do you want Miller?" he asked, rubbing his hands over his face.

"I'm still not happy about having Tom lead the re-enactment," she admitted.

"It's the best way of jogging people's memories," Alec insisted. "Has Beth Latimer heard anything else from that psychic?"

"No, thankfully. Why, what did you threaten him with?" Ellie grinned.

"You've heard of Torchwood?" Alec raised his eyebrows.

"You never contacted them?" she laughed. "Seriously?"

"We don't have time for him Miller," Alec reminded her. "We can't have Beth getting false hope."

"How did you manage to get Torchwood involved?" Ellie wanted to know.

"If I said I know Rose Tyler herself?" Alec told her.

"Don't be stupid – Sir," Ellie didn't believe him at first. "No way."

"Why does that seem unlikely?" Alec wanted to know. "In fact, my daughter is in regular contact with her. Daisy was her chief bridesmaid last year, her mother and I both attended."

"Wow, she must have been excited then?" Ellie asked him. "So you called Rose Tyler?"

"Not at first but it helped knowing her," Alec didn't want to admit too much about how he knew Rose.

"Sir, are we going to be working again this weekend?" Ellie changed the subject and hoping the answer was no.

"Not unless something else comes up," Alec replied.

"Good, I'd like to spend it with my family, after last weekend," Ellie was relieved.

So on Saturday morning, Alec set off early and arrived at the Tyler mansion just after midday, being greeted by Rose as he was let in.

"Hi, thanks for coming," Rose greeted him. "I hope ya didn't change any plans?"

"Ah, no but my DS was pleased we weren't working this weekend," Alec replied.

"Well, come and join us for lunch in the kitchen, Tony will be happy to see ya. He's been a bit down since we had to tell him Jamie's gonna be away for a while. We didn't know what else to tell him."

Alec wasn't that surprised but he failed to see what difference his own presence would make. He followed Rose, one of the staff taking the bag he'd been holding from him. Tony started to get up but Pete held the boy in place.

"It's not Jamie," Pete reminded him. "You remember Alec, from Rose's wedding, don't you?"

"Yes Dad," the poor boy seemed confused.

"Hello again Tony," Alec greeted him. "I know you must miss Jamie but I'm sure he'll be back when he can."

"Dad said he didn't know, didn't you Dad?" Tony looked at Pete.

"We're doing everything we can to get him home," Pete promised.

"Isn't Alec a policeman?" Tony asked Pete.

"Yes, I am Tony," Alec replied as he sat at the table next to Jackie, to be on the safe side. "Nice to see you again Jackie, Pete," he added.

"We were a bit surprised that ya were coming this weekend," Jackie told him.

Alec was glad she'd not come right out and said Rose had called him to help find Jamie.

"Alec, will you play football with me later?" Tony asked him. "Rose can be in goal, can't you Rose?"

Alec suspected Rose would do anything to cheer the boy up.

"Sure, if Rose wants to be in goal?" Alec agreed with a smile.

"Only if you two go easy on me," Rose laughed. "See who scores the most goals between ya but don't expect to get many in the net."

"We will see about that, won't we Tony?" Alec laughed back.

Alec suspected also that Rose would rather be talking about her problem but it seemed her younger brother came first. Alec was showed to the room he'd stayed in before and then went down to find Rose and Tony, Tony dragging him outside and behind the house to where a goalpost was set up along with an elaborate climbing frame complete with swings and a slide.

"Some playground you have Tony," Alec told him, having left his jacket inside and Rose had changed into a sports top.

Tony of course had the full kit of his favourite football team on. Pete came out to join them as Tony was kicking the football to Alec when Rose said Pete would be out soon. After about half an hour, Pete declared Tony the winner and Alec lifted the boy onto his shoulders, Tony lifting his arms as Rose and Pete cheered him.

While Pete went to see to Tony, Rose and Alec went into a small sitting room overlooking the garden.

"So, any news yet?" Alec wanted to know as Rose poured cold lemonade into two tall glasses.

"Nothing at all. No-one can find him Alec. I'm sorry I dragged ya up here now. There's just no trace of him, we have no idea where to look," Rose told him sadly.

"I shouldn't really use police resources to find someone who has not been reported missing," Alec replied. "I will do so as a personal favour to you. Was Jamie off before he disappeared?"

"Only when he saw the news headlines," Rose tried to joke. "Sorry. Ya think I'm blaming you for all this, don't ya?"

"No, I'm not," Alec put his glass on the small table and leaned over, taking her hand. "Rose, it's Jamie's problem, not yours. He should have trusted you and that eventually, the boy's killer will be caught and I will fade back into the background again."

"He could have talked to me about it," Rose told him. "He never gave me chance, we came back from that weekend away and he went straight back to work, then he was really late home."

"Now you are blaming yourself," Alec replied, leaning back. "Rose, did he give you any indication he would not be returning home that night?"

"No, nothing. So why didn't he come home then?" Rose began to sob, Alec reaching for a tissue on the table and passing it to her.

"Have you talked to your mother about it?" he then asked, thinking maybe she should have done and not called him instead.

What did he know about such matters where they had both been seemingly happy but maybe things hadn't been as they seemed after all.

"I thought Jamie was only jealous when I was around?" Alec then tried to joke. "Did all this start when I was in the news?"

"Yeah, at least I thought so," Rose tried to dry her eyes. "Maybe it never went away but he never said anything."

"He must have been bottling it up then?" Alec mused. "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Rose shook her head, not wanting to say Jamie didn't want to talk about starting a family and their other problem – that of Jamie backing away all the time in bed and not being as spontaneous as he was when they'd first met. It hadn't been a question of starting a family back then though, had it, Rose thought. She was still on her monthly injections back then.

"Rose?" Alec then brought her back to reality.

"I don't want to talk about it Alec," she then replied. "You won't wanna hear it anyway."

"Try me," he smiled, reaching for another tissue and resisting drying her tears still on her cheeks.

"I can't Alec, sorry. It was only about starting a family, that's all," Rose admitted, thinking he wasn't about to quit asking her.

"Fine, you don't have to tell me then," he agreed. "I gather you were more keen than he was then?"

"Ya could say that?" Rose tried to smile.

"Rose, I'm sorry but that makes a difference to how his mood was before he went off. He may not want to be found now but he may just be thinking things over," Alec told her.

"Yeah, you're probably right then," Rose had to agree. "I'm sorry I dragged you all the way here."

"Don't apologise Rose, it's a pleasure to be here again and to see you," he told her. "That brother of yours has grown."

"Yeah but he misses Jamie, we're tryin' to make up for it," Rose told him. "Come on, let's go join them for tea in the kitchen, I never realised what time it was."

"Well, after playing football with Tony, that is hardly surprising," Alec laughed.

After having tea, cherry scones and cake, Tony persuaded Rose and Alec to play with his car track up in the attic, showing Alec how to work the control and Rose cheering when Tony won. Rose thought Alec had let Tony win but he confessed he'd never played before.

"Ya didn't do too badly," Rose patted him on the back as they let Tony go downstairs first. "I think you're about as good as Jamie was and he'd had plenty of practice."

Alec then couldn't understand that if Jamie was close to Tony, why not want kids of his own? Then he wondered if Rose realised that maybe Jamie thought he'd be letting her brother down if they did have any kids. Surely that wasn't the only reason? Still, he had no right judging if he didn't have all the facts, Rose didn't want to say any more.

Alec then said he should go freshen up before dinner later on so they parted company, though Rose seemed reluctant.

"Come on Rose, what's really bothering you?" Alec then asked outside his room. "Did playing with Tony remind you of something?"

"Yeah, a bit. They used to do something together every Saturday afternoon and me and mum would sometimes go shopping. Never mind, it's done with now," she told him.

"What do you mean by that?" Alec wanted to know.

"He's not coming back, is he?" Rose replied sadly.

"Why do you say that?" Alec asked, pulling her towards the door by the arm. "Rose?"

"I just know. Even when we were discussing having a family, he never went off," she replied. "He avoided the subject, yeah but he didn't say anything. I just assumed he wanted to wait."

"Maybe he did?" Alec wondered. "Rose, I will try and find him, I promise but if he doesn't want to be found, then you will just have to wait and see."

"Yeah, I know. Thanks Alec. I'll let ya get changed then."

He watched her walk off. What did she expect him to do? Jamie had obviously run away from his responsibilities as a husband. In his own case, it had been Tess who had walked off so he'd had no personal experiences to go by. He couldn't stop thinking about poor Rose though, what she must be going through but he was thinking more and more that she was right.

Maybe Jamie had no intentions of returning but they had to give him chance to contact her. He joined the family for dinner then Tony wanted him to tell him a bedtime story so afterwards, he went looking for Rose, going into the family room.

"Hello Alec," Pete greeted him. "Looking for Rose?"

"Well yes. Has she gone to her room?" Alec tried not to sound disappointed.

"She'll be in the conservatory, where she always is these days," Jackie told him. "Lord knows why she spends her time in there."

"You know why Jaks," Pete laughed.

"Oh," was all Alec could say.

"She likes looking up at the stars," Pete told him. "She won't mind if you go looking for her."

Alec went off and Jackie turned to Pete.

"What ya tell him that for Pete? He's supposed to be here to find Jamie."

"I know he is Jackie. We know why Jamie went off," Pete replied.

"Well yeah, 'cos Alec looks like him," Jackie laughed. "Ya don't think Jamie was right to be worried?"

"I don't know Jaks but at the wedding, Alec and Rose had been talking outside her room in the morning," he admitted. "You sent him to look for Jamie and Tony."

"Don't go blamin' me Pete," Jackie replied. "What else?"

"Rose admitted Jamie saw Alec leaving the conservatory that evening," Pete told her.

Alec had found Rose, just as on the night of the wedding.

"Rose. Tell me why else Jamie would have gone off, please? I want to help you."

"I can't Alec," she told him tearfully.

Alec took her hand and she stood up as he attempted to dry her eyes. Then, without saying anything, he held his arms out and Rose leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Rose, is it something Jamie hasn't done?" Alec then asked her as he held her.

Rose managed to nod.

"I don't know Alec, maybe?"

She looked up at him, he was so much like Jamie but where Jamie had been spontaneous at first, he had got less and less over the last year or so. She couldn't help looking into Alec's eyes and didn't resist when Alec leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips.

Chapter 23

Rose felt all flustered when she had kissed Alec back then pulled away.

"I'm sorry, I should not have done that," Alec realised she was embarrassed.

"No, it wasn't your fault Alec. I think right now, I trust you more than I trust Jamie to come back," she admitted.

"You really don't believe he will come back, do you?" Alec asked her.

"Honestly?" Rose looked at him. "I suppose he wanted to avoid a confrontation, that he wanted to spare me an argument? Maybe he even wanted to spare himself?" she wondered.

"I did not realise how serious things were," Alec admitted. "Did you ever argue over anything?"

"Not really," Rose recalled. "Maybe that's just it though? Maybe he had a temper I never saw, that he didn't want me to see? You have to promise not to repeat what I'm gonna tell ya."

He took both her hands.

"I promise Rose. Is it something to do with Torchwood? I told my DS we were getting help, although she never believed I knew you," he smiled.

"Yeah, it's to do with Torchwood. Ya could say they're responsible for me and my mum being here," Rose admitted.

"You mean with Pete?" Alec wondered, though he suspected there was more to it.

He'd read how Pete had lost his first wife to the Cybermen and how it was strange he'd met Rose's mother a few years later, who could be the first Jackie Tyler's double.

"Alec, that's only a part of it. Me and mum got caught up with those Cybermen, when Lumic set them loose, well it was just me, an old friend and someone I cared about. Anyway, we helped Pete and that group of freedom fighters, then we left. When the Cybermen got loose, Pete helped us when we found ourselves in the middle of it," she started to explain without giving too much away.

"Let me get this right. He wanted to repay you for helping him previously?" Alec wanted to know. "Who was this person you cared about? A boyfriend?"

"We were really good friends, we just never got around to admitting anything," Rose told him. "Anyway, the Cybermen disappeared, remember?"

"Yes, only too well," Alec admitted. "Go on."

"Pete had got a team together to take over Torchwood and they followed the Cybermen and this friend of mine volunteered to go with them so I said if he was going, so was I. He just never got back, he stayed behind to close this gap the Cybermen had made to escape."

"Are you trying to say you know where they went?" Alec wanted to know. "People said they could not have just vanished."

"Yeah, they went to a parallel world, exactly like this one," Rose confessed, thinking he'd get up and walk out and that kiss had been for nothing.

Alec sat back, not attempting to move as Rose had predicted.

"I might have known it would be something like that," was all he could say. "I think you are not telling me everything Rose."

Rose knew he'd caught her out.

"I got back Alec, he didn't. My mum had been with us, she kept going on at Pete for letting me go so this other friend of mine came after us and finally Pete, who dragged me back before the gap actually closed. We all got back except the one I cared about."

Alec listened to what she had to say but he knew she was covering something up. He was willing to leave it for now and to assure her he believed her so far.

"Alec, I was screaming at my friend to come back with us, Pete gave in to my mum because he couldn't face her if he'd come back without me. I didn't want to leave the most important person to me behind. I never got to tell him how I felt about him."

Alec could tell she was trying to hold back the tears.

"I am sorry you lost your friend Rose and now I understand why you want to find Jamie. Did he know what happened?"

"Yeah, I met Jamie not long after that, Pete had hired him 'cos he didn't know I would ever meet him. He and mum were really happy when me and Jamie started going out," Rose told him.

"I expect your stepfather thought he had made it up to you? Maybe he did have an idea he'd see you and your mother again? How did you meet up again?" Alec was curious.

Rose knew she had well and truly been caught out this time.

"Alec, can we leave this for now?" she used the excuse.

"Of course. Maybe I can escort you to your room?" he suggested.

"Yeah, it must be gettin' late," Rose realised. "What time do ya have to leave tomorrow? Mum will insist ya stay for lunch."

"Well if she insists?" Alec smiled. "Are you sure only your mother will want me to stay?"

"Well Tony will be pleased," Rose added as he helped her up.

"I was not talking about your brother," he teased her.

"Don't know what ya mean," Rose blushed the colour of her name.

"I'm sure you do," Alec replied as he let her go first.

Jackie and Pete had given up and gone to bed after checking on Tony.

"Maybe they've already gone to their rooms?" Pete suggested.

"Come on Pete, do ya really think so?" Jackie replied. "After what ya told me earlier? They'll still be talking."

"I hope Alec doesn't do anything stupid then," Pete told her.

"Do ya think something happened that night, enough to get Jamie really worried?" Jackie asked him.

"I really don't know Jaks," Pete replied as he turned out his bedside lamp.

"Well ya said yaself he was coming from the direction of Rose's room that morning," Jackie reminded him. "Why was he coming from that direction do ya think?"

"He probably just got lost. Rose said she'd been looking for someone to get her some coffee. He maybe just saw her and asked the way to Tony's play room," Pete suggested. "I don't think there was anything to it."

"Yeah but Jamie maybe took it the wrong way, ya know what he was like Pete," Jackie replied. "He can't have seen them that morning, can he?"

"I'm beginning to wonder about that," Pete told her.

"So ya don't think he'll come back then?" Jackie was worried as she turned out her lamp. "Poor Rose. Do ya think she's realised?"

"Maybe?" Pete pondered. "She was worried enough to call the person who maybe caused Jamie to go off."

Rose and Alec had reached her room.

"Alec, I'm not mad at ya for kissing me earlier ya know," she admitted.

"I should not have assumed anything," Alec replied. "I did wonder though, since I resemble Jamie. Rose, do we both look like the friend you lost?"

Rose didn't want to answer that but Alec put his hands on her shoulders.

"Rose? You said Jamie knew what happened to your friend, did he know he looked like him?"

"What do ya want me to say Alec?" Rose asked him. "Do ya want me to say ya don't look anything like the friend I lost?"

"Rose, don't take it the wrong way eh?" Alec tried to calm her.

"Sorry. So it's not about you looking like Jamie, ya think he never got over looking like someone else I cared about and you just made it worse?"

"I don't know, maybe?" Alec wondered. "It makes sense Rose. Now, can I kiss you goodnight?" he smiled.

"Geez Alec, he would have left me even if you'd never come to our wedding?" Rose asked him.

"It looks that way I'm afraid," he replied. "I'm sorry Rose."

"Yeah but I never blamed you for Jamie going off," Rose reminded him.

Jackie had gone to sleep but Pete couldn't help but wonder if Rose and Alec were still talking downstairs or if there was no sign of them so he got out of bed and was about to go downstairs when he heard talking.

"It's all my fault Rose," Pete admitted as he got near them, Alec moving his hands from Rose's shoulders.

Alec was just relieved Pete hadn't waited until he was about to kiss Rose again or he'd be asked to leave tonight, let alone in the morning when Jackie would have a go at him for ruining her daughter's marriage.

"Dad, ya didn't know," Rose reminded him.

"Know what?" Alec wanted to know. "Rose, Pete?"

"How much did you tell him?" Pete asked Rose.

"Not nearly enough," Alec now realised Rose had indeed been hiding something.

"Rose, if you trust Alec, then tell him," Pete suggested. "I know you never wanted to tell Jamie everything, just enough."

"Rose, I won't run away, from what you already told me. How much was true?" Alec asked her.

"All of it, just the fact Pete did rescue me from a parallel world, just that me and mum came from it and got brought here. I did go back for my friend, he was there all on his own but I would have stayed there."

"You two talk it out," Pete suggested before Jackie went looking for him and dragged Alec back to his room. "Alec, you can ask me anything you want in the morning. Goodnight both of you."

Pete went off, wondering what he'd have interrupted if he had got there earlier. Something was about to give between them, he'd seen all the signs at the wedding. It seemed Jamie had realised it as well, since the detective had got himself in the news again.

He just hoped they knew what they were doing. Alec seemed a sensible man, at least he was divorced but if the media got hold of this, he'd have more to worry about than catching a killer.

Rose was dying to retreat to her room but had a feeling Alec had more questions about where she came from, amongst other things.

"So, you want to know more?" Rose dared ask.

"Rose, I knew those Cybermen never just disappeared. You were on the front line, so to speak?" he wanted to know.

"Ya could say that," Rose answered quietly, hoping her mother hadn't noticed Pete had sneaked off and followed him. "We can't talk out here Alec, ya never know when my mum's on the prowl," she tried to joke.

She opened her bedroom door, leaving it for Alec to follow. He closed the door and stood behind it, his foot resting on it.

"Then tell me what you can. So you got brought here, when the Cybermen crossed to your world? Rose, was there a Torchwood there? There were rumours going around the old regime here had something to do with it but it was never proved. Then your stepfather took over and it was all hushed up."

"Not by Pete it wasn't," Rose corrected him. "He said he had no choice than to let the government sweep it aside, in agreement that he took over and changed Torchwood for the better. Pete had the backing and the money once he got his company back from when Lumic had control."

"Ah, Lumic?" Alec mused. "He had a lot to answer for, it was a good thing he went missing after what he did. I expect you were involved with that as well?" he smiled, moving towards her.

He put his hands on her shoulders.

"It's a long story," Rose yawned.

"Then you can tell me in the morning? Unless?" he replied as he leaned down to try to kiss her again. "What are you afraid of Rose? You say you think Jamie has gone for good, are you afraid there will be rumours? It does not bother me, he left you, remember?"

"I know. You have enough problems Alec, without me adding to them," Rose replied.

"Rose, let me worry about that eh?" he told her as their lips met.

This time, the kiss lasted longer, making Rose feel light-headed.

"Alec, it's not fair," she tried to back away but he still held on to her.

"Rose," he shushed her, putting his finger on her lips. "I will give you time to think about it, you can come down to Broadchurch any time you want. If Jamie does come back, I will understand you wanting to stay with him."

"I don't know Alec? Could I trust him again, if he wants to make up?" Rose wondered.

"I can't tell you that but you must know I care about you?" he asked her. "Why do you think I was willing to come up here and help you?"

He went towards her and put his arms around her.

"Rose, tell me what it was, I mean about Jamie?" he urged as Rose leaned into his shoulder.

"I can't," Rose replied as she looked up at him.

"I'm sorry but I think I already know," he admitted. "You said he was always backing away."

"I don't know Alec, honestly. It could just have been me," she admitted.

Alec held back slightly.

"Rose, don't take the blame for him. You would know if it was you."

"I would?" she asked innocently. "Geez Alec, I don't know any more. So if he comes back, should I say something?"

"Rose, he may already know that you have realised," Alec replied. "Do you honestly think he will be able to face you? What are you going to do, if he does not come back?"

"Come and see you in Broadchurch?" Rose tried to joke. "Seriously, I don't know Alec."

"Well, I meant it Rose, I won't care what is said in the papers, if it gets out," he told her. "I do care about you, I think you already know that? You need time to think, to sort out your feelings but I think Jamie let you down, badly."

"How do you know Alec?" Rose asked him.

"You did not have to say anything, it was the way you reacted," he replied, stepping back closer to her.

Before either of them knew it, they were under the sheets, Alec kissing her all over and afterwards, pulling Rose on top of him.

"Is something wrong?" he asked as she was reluctant to stay there and rolled on her back again.

"Nothing, it's fine. It's not you Alec, it's me."

"Oh, I was right then?" he replied, hovering over her, propped up on one arm and tracing her curves with his finger. "Ah, that would be the point your husband would shall we say 'back off'?"

Rose remained silent and started to get out of bed.

"Rose, don't run away eh?" he called after her.

She went to a drawer to get some clean underwear and a vest top, then put on her silky blue floral robe.

"I'm just going to the bathroom Alec, I'm not running away. I just need to freshen up."

"Something happened to you, yes?" he wanted to know as he watched her.

If he could have seen her face in the dim light from the lamp but he didn't need to see, he knew he was right.

"Rose, it's only natural, you don't have to run away. I did not cause you any discomfort?"

"What?'" Rose was still confused as to what he was saying. "If ya meant did ya hurt me, then, well just a little at first," she admitted. "I have to go now."

As she disappeared, Alec scrabbled under the bed for his shorts, thinking if they were going to discuss the event of them having sex and Rose not knowing she'd just had her real first time, he was not doing so not wearing anything at all.

He had suspected the problem was that one of them hadn't wanted to go the whole way but from what Rose had said and just done, he guessed it hadn't been her. Or had it, he wondered as Rose emerged from the bathroom. Maybe she had just been reluctant and Jamie had sensed it but he was no therapist.

"Hey," Rose greeted him as she got back into bed. "Was that what it's supposed to be like?" she asked innocently.

"Yes, so I guess it was Jamie who either thought he should back off and give you time or he sensed you did not want to give in?"

"I don't know which Alec," Rose admitted as he put his arm around her. "Hey, don't you go gettin' caught by my mother in the morning, she'll be up about eight to sort Tony out."

"I have no intentions of getting caught," he laughed.

"Well it's usually earlier than that but Tony just plays when he wakes up. When he was younger, he used to jump on my bed to wake me up. Mum told him he's too big to do that now but it was just to stop him pouncing on Jamie really."

"Well I will leave in plenty of time then, unless you wish me to leave now?" he asked, not wanting to take advantage.

"No, I don't want ya to go now. What do I do now Alec? Do I wait and see what Jamie does or just accept it's over?"

"Rose, it's up to you but you have to be realistic. How long do you wait eh? He may be waiting for you to make the first move," Alec suggested.

"Do ya think so?" Rose wondered. "I can't face it Alec, if I do make the first move, I'll have to get Pete to get me a good divorce lawyer. Then keep it out of the papers, stay out of the way."

"Then come down to Broadchurch," Alec offered. "The press are too busy going after the boy's family, trust me."

"You have too much to do already without worrying about me," Rose replied as she put her arm across him and laid her head on his chest.

"I will worry about you," he told her as he kissed the top of her head. "Get some sleep, we can talk before I leave tomorrow."

Alec woke early and tried not to disturb Rose, who had somehow crawled over him and was half on, half off him. He had to smile at her and moved some hair gently off her face, making her move slightly.

"Rose, I have to go back to my room now," he reminded her.

"Yeah, okay," Rose replied with a yawn. "Alec, we need to talk about this before ya leave."

"I know, don't worry eh? I would worry more about your mother catching me sneaking back to my room, especially from the direction of yours," he smiled, kissing her cheek. "Rose, last night was really something special and I regret having to leave but you need to talk things over with your parents."

He got dressed then leaned over her and gave her a kiss.

"Just remember, come down to Broadchurch any time," he told her.

"Yeah, I will, when I get sorted. Do ya think Jamie's waiting for me to make the first move then?"

"He may be but it's down to him, he was the one who went off," he reminded her again.

"Yeah, maybe he just wanted to prove a point?" Rose wondered.

Chapter 24

Alec could already see where this was leading. Did he want to be in the middle of any divorce between the woman he'd already fallen in love with and her errant husband? It seemed clear to him that Jamie had been confronted with Rose wanting to have children and him not agreeing.

"Rose?" Alec reminded her he was still there.

"Oh, sorry. Yeah, ya'd best go before mum or Tony catch ya, it'd be better Tony did, then mum wouldn't get suspicious," she smiled at the thought.

"Rose, we won't be able to hide you know, not if I come back. Well if I am invited back?" he wondered.

"Alec, you'll always be welcome here, Daisy too if she wants? It was just us being at work all the time, I never got around to asking her," Rose admitted.

"Well Tess maybe would have objected," Alec replied. "It was I who was reluctant to come to your wedding but now, well I think I know why I gave in. Rose, I hope you do not think I came to the wedding just to meet you?"

"No, I don't think that Alec," Rose assured him. "Can we talk before ya have to leave, I really don't want ya to get caught sneakin' out of here."

"I understand your concern Rose but it does not bother me, really," he told her as he leaned over to kiss her. "See you at breakfast then?"

"Yeah, okay but let me talk to mum first?" she asked him. "I think they both know Jamie won't come back but I'll tell them you and I are just friends, for now."

"If that is what you want?" Alec had to agree.

He supposed it was better than Jackie Tyler giving him a grilling over his intentions towards her still technically married daughter. He had been a witness to Rose's marriage, he had danced with her, much to Jamie's dismay and Jamie had seen him as a threat even back then.

He had however had no intentions of breaking up what seemed like a happy marriage but now he understood what Rose had to put up with, if Jamie had objected to everyone Rose spoke to. After another quick kiss, he left her room and prayed Jackie was not already on the prowl, if she had discovered he hadn't been in his room if she'd knocked on the door.

Jackie was just getting up, luckily for Alec but she had already told Pete she was worried about Rose.

"Jackie, she'll be okay," Pete tried to assure her.

"Ya mean if she relies on Alec?" Jackie wondered.

"She'll do what it takes Jaks," Pete told her as he tried to beat her to the bathroom, knowing how long she took.

"Pete, ya'll have to wait for ya shower, I'm busting," Jackie then laughed as she dashed towards the bathroom door.

"Take your time, I'll use the main bathroom," Pete replied, putting his dressing gown on. "I'll check on Tony first."

"Make sure he wears something decent will ya?" Jackie shouted behind her as she closed the bathroom door.

Pete wondered what she meant by that remark. He'd arranged with one of the female staff to help get Tony up and dressed, since that usually fell to Jamie when he and Rose visited. Tony hadn't let anyone else get him up on a Sunday since they'd been together and Jamie had stayed over.

Tony was already in a mood because Jamie wasn't there.

"But Nancy," the boy had been objecting to being shaken awake by the young woman. "I want Jamie to get me up."

"Well Tony, you know he's not here this weekend, don't you?" Nancy tried to convince him.

Just then, Pete came in, seeing Tony sat up in bed with his arms folded.

"Dad. Why isn't Jamie here?" the boy wanted to know.

"Come on Tony, do as Nancy asks," Pete insisted. "We already explained Jamie couldn't come this weekend."

"But Alec's here," Tony complained.

"You know Alec from the wedding," Pete reminded him. "He's a friend on Rose and Jamie's. You remember Daisy?"

"Why isn't she here?" Tony then wanted to know.

"Tony, you'll be late for breakfast if you don't get a move on," Pete insisted. "Sorry Nancy."

"It's okay Sir, my brother was the same at Tony's age," Nancy smiled. "Come on Tony, let's get you dressed then."

"I can do it," Tony replied, moving slowly out of bed.

Alec was just outside his room when he heard them talking and rushed inside. When was the last time he'd been sneaking back without being seen by a girlfriend's parents? It had been a very long time. For Rose, it was maybe worth it, Pete may be more willing to let it slide than Rose's mother.

Pete heard a room door closing and went around the corner, thinking it could only have been Alec. Maybe their guest had already been to see Rose? He hoped for Rose's sake if the pair of them had spent the night together, Jackie didn't find out about it. It would be better if Rose admitted it herself, she was old enough to make her own decisions but he bet divorce was on the cards.

Jamie should have faced up to it rather than run away from the problem, he had only himself to blame for getting jealous over Alec Hardy, Pete thought. Now, it was his fault for hiring Jamie in the first place and not daring to think Rose may come back to this universe one day and meet The Doctor's double.

Maybe Jamie had finally discovered the secret they'd all tried so hard to keep from him? Alec already had his suspicions something was going on, after all, he was a detective, Pete mused.

Alec got changed and went down to the kitchen, after asking one of the staff where breakfast was being served. Rose was already seated next to Tony, waiting for the cook to finish doing the boy's eggs how he wanted them.

"Tony, you're just being awkward," Rose insisted as he played with the remainder of his cereal.

"I like them best like that," Tony replied, looking up when Alec walked in.

"Hello Tony," Alec greeted the boy. "Good morning Rose."

"Hi Alec, help yaself to cereal," she indicated to another smaller table with various boxes and a jug of milk.

"Alec, you can have some of my choco-pops," the boy then grinned, Rose nudging him.

"I will save them for you," Alec laughed as he helped himself to another box.

He went to sit at the other side of Rose, hoping no-one would notice something was already going on between them.

"Are ya sure ya didn't see Alec creeping along the hallway?" Jackie was asking Pete, just to make sure their guest had slept in his own room last night.

Pete was hoping he'd been wrong about almost catching the pair of them outside Rose's room.

"Jackie, you have to trust Rose," he reminded her as they went downstairs, nodding to one of the male staff. "I can't think why Jamie would just go off like that other than what happened at the wedding. Alec's not entirely to blame, Rose talked to plenty of other people that day."

"Yeah Pete but non of the others looked like Jamie," Jackie insisted. "Do ya think Jamie thought Alec looked too much like him or do ya think seeing Alec made him think he looked like The Doctor?"

"We've never talked about it in front of Jamie," Pete replied. "Alec already suspects something. I told Rose she should tell him, if he asks. Jackie, she trusts Alec, leave them be for now eh?"

"Well there'd better not be anything already going on between them Pete, Rose is already fragile after Jamie left," Jackie insisted.

After breakfast, Jackie looking to see how Rose and Alec reacted to each other as they ate, Tony wanted Alec to play football outside with him, poor Rose having to go in goal.

"Tony, don't aim the ball at your sister," Alec was telling him in the middle of the pitch marked out.

"Aw, she doesn't mind," Tony laughed back. "Will you come and see us again Alec?" the boy then asked.

"As long as I am invited," Alec replied, throwing the ball he'd been handed onto the grass.

Rose declared she'd had enough and they left Tony with the ball to kick around, walking to the fountain. They sat down, being careful Tony wasn't watching as Alec tried to kiss her.

"He already misses Jamie a lot," Rose told Alec. "Dad said he wanted Jamie to get him up this morning."

"Well, I think Jamie was being pretty selfish, going off without saying anything to your brother," Alec had to admit. "Sorry Rose but you both deserved better than that, Tony does not understand."

"Yeah, we've been tryin' to cheer him up, it's gonna be a long school holiday," Rose agreed. "I wish ya could stay a bit longer."

Alec took her hands, making sure Tony was occupied and seeing Pete standing at one of the patio doors in the distance.

"So do I Rose but I have a case to solve. Maybe Jamie would still be here if I had not made the news again."

Rose thought he'd already said that once but it wouldn't have made any difference.

"Alec, ya showed me last night why Jamie probably left," she reminded him. "He just didn't want kids but we could have discussed it."

"He may not have changed his mind you know?" Alec told her. "What are you going to do now? Will you come down to Broadchurch by any chance?"

"I will Alec, when I sort things out. I'm not going back to our apartment, I'll get dad to handle it all, he'll get Jake onto it. I'll just have to go get my things. Anyway, ya don't want me gettin' in the way down there," Rose replied.

"You would not be in the way Rose," Alec assured her. "I meant it, come down any time eh? Maybe then you will be ready to tell me about the friend you lost, who myself and Jamie look like? It does not bother me."

"Alec. Yes, Jamie was more like him than you are, he must have suspected. When I met Jamie, I missed my friend so much and there he was, right in front of me in Jamie. They were so much alike, always showing off, causing trouble, getting told off by my mum," Rose recalled with a smile.

"You thought you had got your friend back?" Alec asked. "You see none of those things in me then?"

"Don't take it the wrong way Alec, please? It's just, well you act more your age, unlike Jamie and my friend. I think I needed someone like that really but I let myself be led by him. How could I tell him Alec?"

Alec was at a loss what to tell her. He'd already gathered she missed her friend and had seen Jamie as a substitute, maybe Jamie had finally noticed now that he himself had appeared? Had Rose given Jamie an indication of that, even accidentally? Maybe he was right and Jamie had wanted to slip away quietly and not cause a big argument?

Jackie would be on Rose's side, that was for certain. Pete would be feeling guilty for employing Jamie but surely he'd known Rose may meet him one day? He still wanted to know how Rose and Pete had met in the first place but there wasn't time today, he had to leave soon and there were more important issues to resolve, like persuading Rose to visit him in Broadchurch, murder investigation underway or not.

He held his hand out to help Rose up as Tony came towards them.

"Come on Rose, I'm hungry," Tony laughed as Rose dropped Alec's hand.

Tony ran ahead of them and Alec took her hand again.

"You won't fool your parents as much as your brother," Alec reminded her as they approached the house.

"You're not kidding," Rose replied, smiling at the thought of her mother's face if she saw them. "Mind you, mum will already suspect something, you just being here."

"Now you tell me," Alec remarked. "After I went to great lengths to avoid being caught by her earlier. I heard Pete talking to your brother, he must have heard my room door closing and he did see us last night."

"He won't tell tales on us Alec," Rose assured him as Alec opened the patio door where Pete had been stood earlier.

"I expect he will be impartial?" Alec wondered. "Rose, I do want to know how you met Pete but I have a feeling you hushed all that up with Jamie?"

"I wanted to make a fresh start Alec," Rose told him. "I wanted to forget the past. It was too much of a reminder about the Cybermen, we all wanted to forget them and I wanted to forget what part me and my friend played in the whole thing."

"I do not blame you Rose," Alec replied. "Then tell me what you are comfortable with?" he suggested.

"I will Alec, I promise," she smiled as Tony waited in the room doorway.

"There you all are," Pete greeted them as he caught up with them. "It seems your mother wants you Tony," he grinned.

"Aw Dad, I can wash my own hands," Tony insisted.

"She's not waiting to wash your hands young man," Pete told him, looking at his dirty football shirt and shorts.

"About time," Jackie told the young boy as she was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. "Look at the state of ya."

"Sorry, we left him to play with the ball," Alec apologised.

"Rose, you were in charge of him," Jackie insisted. "What were you two doin'?"

"Let the boy have some fun Jaks," Pete intervened. "He just misses Jamie. He got messy all the time."

"Well Jamie's not here, is he Pete?" Jackie told him as Tony went up the stairs.

"How can we tell Tony why he's really not here?" Rose wanted to know, Alec taking her arm.

"Leave it," Alec insisted, having a feeling this was about him.

"Well you two have some explainin' to do," Jackie turned back to them.

"Sorry," Pete turned towards them as Jackie went off after Tony. "It's getting to all of us Alec, don't take it personally."

"It's fine Pete, I totally understand," Alec agreed as he put his arm around Rose's shoulder. "Does Jackie think something is going on between Rose and myself?"

"Honestly?" Pete smiled. "I wouldn't try hiding anything if I were you Alec. If she suspects something, she'll tell you, won't she Rose?"

"Sorry Alec, dad's right," Rose had to agree.

"Rose, it will take more than that," Alec promised as Pete went in front of them towards the dining room. "Is this a formal lunch?" he then smiled.

Rose nudged him, calling him a plum and making Alec feel better that Rose was being herself. He had showed her last night how he felt about her and he hoped it was enough to make her realise that while Jamie had abandoned her, he himself wasn't about to do the same.

"Rose, you won't get rid of me that easily," he then whispered to her as they entered the dining room.

He held a chair out for her then sat beside her, opposite Pete.

"So, what are your plans Alec?" Pete wanted to know. "You're not fooling me or Rose's mother you know?"

"I was not trying to fool anyone Pete," Alec replied. "Rose asked for my help and I will do my best to try and find Jamie, if he wants to be found."

"He won't want to be found," Rose had to admit. "I'm sorry I dragged ya all the way up here Alec."

"Don't be sorry Rose," Alec insisted, hearing a noise outside. "I promised to help you."

Tony was chattering away as they ate, then asked about Daisy.

"Will she come and see us Alec?" the boy wanted to know.

"Ask your sister to invite her to visit," Alec turned to Rose, having taken her hand behind the table, not that they were fooling Jackie.

"I will, now I'm not working," Rose agreed. "Alec, do you see much of her now?"

"No, sadly," Alec replied, wondering how long Jackie would be before she erupted. "I invited her to visit me in Broadchurch but she has not got back to me yet. Maybe you will have better luck inviting her here Rose?"

"I'll call her, I promise," Rose replied, wondering why her mother was so quiet.

Jackie had been trying to get information from her young son while he'd been getting washed and changed.

"So, what did they do after Rose said she'd have enough?" Jackie had asked him.

"They went to sit by the fountain," Tony had told her.

"Then what?" Jackie kept on at him.

"Well, I was playing with my football," Tony hesitated, Jackie knowing he was holding something back. "I think they might have been holding hands Mum."

"They were, were they?" Jackie had huffed.

"Well they might have been getting all kissy," Tony then laughed, making faces.

"I don't need the details," Jackie told him, wiping his face and making him drop the big grin.

"Is Jamie not coming back Mum?" he'd then asked her.

"I don't know Tony, none of us do," Jackie admitted as Tony went to put his arms around her neck.

"I miss him Mum," he replied. "Does Rose miss him? I mean if she was with Alec?"

"I can't explain it Tony," Jackie hesitated, giving the boy a hug. "We'll just have to wait and see. I'm gonna find out though."

"Pete, can ya take Tony to his playroom?" Jackie suddenly spoke up, making Alec think she was about to say something.

"Aw but Mum, I wanna stay," Tony insisted as he sat back on his chair.

"Come on Tony," Pete grinned, knowing what his wife was up to.

No amount of keeping silent would spare Alec if Jackie wanted to know something, Pete thought.

"Well? You two have some explainin' to do," Jackie reminded Rose and Alec, Alec with his hands now on the table.

Rose though looked less than innocent to her mother.

"Ah, Jackie," Alec started to explain. "I assure you, Rose and I are only just friends. I respect the fact that Jamie may come back at any time and then, it is up to Rose what happens. If she decides to patch things up, then all well and good but if not, well I will be there for her."

Rose just looked at him. He was still willing to step back if she decided to forgive Jamie for going off without saying a word but did she want Jamie back? Alec had given her a taste of what it really felt like when someone loved a person and Jamie had always backed away. Did she want things to be the way they had been or did she want more of what Alec could give her?

Both her mother and Alec were looking at her, she couldn't decide right now. Jamie leaving her had upset her though Alec had been there for her in more ways than one. She had loved Jamie as she had loved The Doctor but now, she had a choice to make.

Chapter 25

"Rose?" Alec was looking at her.

"What? Sorry. Alec's right Mum but I can't decide now and when I can, you'll be the first to know Alec. Mum, I have to accept Jamie may not come back," Rose admitted.

"Ya have to give him a chance Rose," her mother told her, still eyeing Alec. "As for you," she pointed to him. "Don't you go upsetting her by going back to that seaside town and forgetting her and not being there if she needs ya again."

"I have no intentions of going back and forgetting about her," Alec replied, facing up to Jackie. "You are right, Rose has enough to deal with at present and Jamie may come back on his own but I will try and make a few discreet enquiries and see if he has been spotted anywhere."

Rose remembered she'd told Jamie about going to Norway and how she'd said goodbye to The Doctor there but what would make Jamie go there? Jamie knew very little about the friend she had said goodbye to there.

"Rose, can you think of anywhere he may have gone?" Alec asked her again.

"I told ya Alec. We went loads of places when we were working for Torchwood, he could have gone to any of them or somewhere completely different. Call Torchwood, they'll be able to give ya all names of the place we went. Tell them I said for them to co-operate with ya."

"I will," Alec agreed, hoping she was right and Torchwood didn't hang up on him. "I will call you if they can't help me. I should be getting ready to leave."

Jackie gave another glance at Alec as if to say she knew the pair of them were up to something, then she went off. Alec took Rose's hands and she leaned on his shoulder.

"Promise me you will come down to Broadchurch if things get too much," Alec reminded her.

"Yeah, when I sort myself out," Rose promised, looking up at him. "Last night was really special, no-one has ever treated me like that before."

"Then I am glad it was me who made you feel like that," Alec replied, kissing her forehead. "Rose, when I see you again, tell me more about this mysterious man Jamie and I look like, I promise I will not run away."

He thought if Jamie had already been the jealous type, knowing Rose had probably loved this other man, it wouldn't have helped. Jamie obviously got worse when he himself had come along to their wedding. That had been purely by chance when Daisy had been chosen out of all the entries to be a bridesmaid and they had all been invited to stay.

"I will just go get my bag," Alec broke the silence, disturbing Rose.

"Yeah, then I'll walk ya out," Rose replied, Alec letting go of her and glad no-one had yet come in to clear up.

He thought he had best go back upstairs on his own, before they were tempted to have a repeat of last night and this morning. He leaned down to kiss her, knowing they could have some explaining to do if Jackie caught them or the staff told her. At this present moment, he wasn't really bothered. When he'd told Jackie he and Rose were just friends, until Rose said otherwise, that was all they were.

"Don't wait too long before you visit eh?" he reminded her. "May I call you, even if I have no news for you?"

"Yeah, 'course ya can," Rose smiled, looking up at him again. "I'll let ya know if I hear anything but ya know I can't go down there yet Alec, not until ya get that case over with. We don't want to attract any attention, the press should concentrate on that poor boy, not me."

"I understand Rose but I can keep the press away from you, when you do come and see me," he promised.

Rose watched him walk upstairs and was tempted to run after him but she would have some explaining to do if her mother saw her. Alec had gone to his room and sat on the bed. He had not come here to see Rose with the intention to have sex with her but it had been out of the control of both of them as nature had taken over. He had never been with a woman who had not had her first time before and it had made the occasion all the more exciting.

When Rose had fallen asleep in his arms, he had thought he was indeed lucky that Rose had allowed him to show her how it really felt after she had admitted Jamie had always backed away. He had smiled at her giggling when he had moved away from her, like she had never experienced anything like it before and now, he wished he could stay longer but he did have a case to solve.

The quicker he found Danny's killer, hopefully Rose would agree to visit but he really hoped it would be sooner. He wondered what Rose had felt like when she had woken up earlier and they'd had a repeat of the night before, after she had been worried about her mother catching him leaving.

He couldn't remember feeling like he had done after he'd made love to Rose and now he didn't want to feel that way with anyone else but her. Rose had been the only one who had made him feel like it was about her and not himself, he couldn't really explain it. There was a knock on the door and his heart skipped a beat, hoping Rose had followed him and he could say goodbye the way he really wanted to.

He opened the door but found one of the male staff standing there. Was Jackie making sure he left, he wondered.

"Excuse me Sir but I was asked to see if you needed any help with your bags?" the man asked him.

So Jackie had sent the man then, Alec mused.

"No, I can manage, thank you," Alec insisted but saw the look on the man's face that told him Jackie was insisting. "Well you can take that bag there," he pointed to his large holdall at the side of the door.

"Very good Sir, I will wait with it downstairs, when you are ready," the man replied, going for the handles.

He had never thought Jackie would let him get away with it, she must suspect something by now but she was being tactful at making sure he left. Was it so Rose could concentrate on the matters at hand, like finding her husband and having a reconciliation?

He just had to be prepared to let her go if she decided to go back to Jamie, if he came back that was. In his mind, the man didn't deserve someone like Rose. He checked he'd got everything and picked up his jacket from the bed. Then he followed the servant downstairs, he didn't know if Jackie referred to the staff as servants or not, he expected she spent most of the day in the kitchen chatting to the cook and drinking tea.

All Rose's family were down to earth, from what he'd learned, this Jackie Tyler was completely opposite to Pete's first wife but he had a feeling it was no coincidence the Vitex chairman had met both Jackie and Rose and had adopted Rose even though she was an adult. He expected it assured her the title of the Vitex heiress. He knew Rose had been out of the press until she had taken up with Jamie. Now, he was going to have to keep her out of the news, which would be no easy task once the press found out Jamie was missing.

Rose was sat in the reception area, waiting for Alec coming down. She had been the one to send someone to help Alec, though she hadn't known why she'd done it. She had caught Colin, the head of staff as he had passed the dining room.

"Would ya do me a favour Colin?" Rose had asked the tall man in a suit.

Rose knew her mother had never been one for formality but Pete had insisted on some sort of dress code for the senior staff.

"Certainly, Miss Tyler. What is it?"

"Can ya make sure my guest is helped with his belonging?" Rose had replied, not knowing if Alec wanted help or not and he'd think her mother had decided to make sure he left.

Rose didn't want him to leave and was trying to delay his departure.

"I will see to it personally," Colin had told her, a slight smile on his face.

He wondered if she had taken a shine to the detective who looked exactly like her husband, who seemed to be no longer around, according to the gossip from the kitchen staff, who he thought was a reliable source of information as Mrs Tyler spent all her time drinking tea with the cook.

Rose looked up as she saw Colin with Alec's bag.

"Is he on his way down?" Rose asked anxiously.

"Yes Miss Tyler, I believe he is following me," was the reply as Colin put the bag down on the floor by the bottom step.

Rose had to smile at the fancy wooden holder at the end of the staircase where she tended to leave a wet umbrella when she'd dashed in from the rain, leaving Jamie to park the car. She had known he could run faster than her but he still complained it spoilt his hair. She was sure she'd seen a bunch of flowers there when she had gate-crashed the other Jackie Tyler's party on that fateful night, something she didn't want to remember. Alec would be sure to ask questions, would she be able to tell him more than they had told Jamie? She had agreed with Pete that if Jamie showed more interest, he would be the one to explain things to Jamie.

She looked up and saw Alec at the top of the stairs, his jacket slung over his right shoulder and his shirt sleeves rolled up. Why did he have to look so hot, she thought to herself. What was it about Alec that she'd never seen in Jamie? Jamie had reminded her too much of The Doctor and although she had loved the Timelord, had she wanted an exact double of him, a sort of clone who did exactly the same things?

Alec was so different, the beard to start with and the Scottish accent, better than the one The Doctor had put on when they had met Queen Victoria. She had thought it a shame they had been vanquished from the land but they had got away with it and now, royalty took second place after the president and was just for show.

After she had seen the then president killed, she had never really taken much notice. When she had come back, Harriet Jones was in charge but it wasn't the one she remembered averting world war three with and running from the Slitheen with.

"Alec, where did ya get to?" Rose greeted him with a smile and put her arm in his left one.

"I was on my way down when your man came to offer to carry my bag," Alec smiled back. "Ah, it was you who sent him?" he asked as her smile widened and she had that look on her face.

"Did ya think my mum was makin' sure ya left?" Rose teased him.

"The thought crossed my mind," Alec replied, moving his jacket and now holding it in his hand.

"She'll be cross she didn't think of it," Rose laughed as Colin had now disappeared.

Colin thought now, he could join in the gossip that Miss Tyler and the detective were being coy around each other, which meant something was certainly going on between them.

"See me out?" Alec suggested before they were caught by her mother, or even worse, Tony.

"Best say bye to everyone first," Rose insisted, leading him to the family room.

"Alec!" Tony rushed towards him. "Will you come back and see us again? Will you bring Daisy with you? Please."

"Whoa," Alec warned the boy as he caught Tony. "Let your sister invite Daisy to visit eh?"

"Will you Rose?" Tony turned to her. "She's fun."

"I'll try Tony, now say bye to Alec," Rose told him.

Pete had got up and went up to shake Alec's hand.

"Thanks for taking time to visit," Pete told Alec. "I know you must be busy."

"Yes but I did promise Rose that if there was anything I could do for her, she only had to call me," Alec replied.

Rose tried to recall when he said that but she was sure he would have done, even in front of Jamie as it was clear they were never going to get on no matter how they both tried. Now she thought about it, Alec did seem to get the better of Jamie to the point she thought Jamie would start a fight like he had done with Mickey that time.

"Yeah, thanks again Alec," Rose nudged him.

"I will do my best to try to locate Jamie, I promise. Jackie, a pleasure to have seen you again," Alec replied as Tony went to her.

He went to pick up his bag and Rose grabbed his other arm again, having put his jacket on.

"I hope I will see you soon," he told her as he neared his car.

He wondered if she would dare to kiss him before he got in the car.

"Yeah, I promise Alec, when everything's died down a bit," Rose replied.

He had to settle for a kiss on the cheek but Rose went to do the same, only half getting his mouth instead. He really hoped her mother wasn't looking out of the window.

"Call me," Rose added as he put his jacket in the back of the car, wanting to kiss him properly but anyone could have seen them.

"I will be sure to," he promised. "Think about what I said Rose, if you have anything you want to tell me, I can assure you I will listen. I have plenty of questions for you, about this place," he nodded towards the house. "I know something happened here, years ago when the Cybermen were let loose upon the population. Something tells me you were somehow involved?"

"Yeah, I was but Pete should tell ya, ya'd never believe me," Rose smiled as he got in the car and opened the window.

"Then I look forward to it," he smiled back. "Bye for now Rose."

After Alec had left, Rose went to join her mother since Tony and Pete were playing in the garden.

"Ya'd better be careful Rose," her mother warned her. "Ya lettin' Alec get too close to ya. No wonder Jamie got jealous when Alec got himself in the news again."

"Jamie should've trusted me," Rose complained. "He made something out of nothing."

"Did he?" Jackie wondered.

"He was the one who kept going on about it Mum, not me," Rose defended herself.

"Are ya sure ya weren't payin' too much attention to what the papers were sayin'?" Rose was then asked. "I was worried about Alec being here last night."

Rose thought she herself had been worried her mother had sent Pete to spy on her. Pete had been more tactful than her mother would have been as she and Alec talked outside her room. Her mother would have warned Alec in no uncertain terms. Before he had left, he had got away with it lightly.

"You had no need to be Mum," Rose replied, picking up the puzzle supplement of a Sunday newspaper her mother still insisted on being delivered even though Pete shook his head in despair.

Old habits still died hard even after all the time that had passed of Rose and her mother being in this world. Jackie still had to watch different versions of the soaps she had watched before and got one of the staff to record them if they were going out, even though there was a catch-up service.

Alec got back to Broadchurch but stopped off by the harbour, having thought about getting a place of his own and leaving the hotel. He had no privacy there, the place would be swarming with reporters as the hotel owner had rooms to fill now holidaymakers were few and far between.

He'd had an idea as he'd approached the harbour area, that of the caravan park being almost next to the police station and it may be faster to take one for a few weeks until the HR department could sort something out for him. He parked up just by the park's reception and hoped they were still open.

After negotiating a two bedroom model, extra wide, he felt pleased with himself as he was told to just let the HR department contact the office the following morning and he could collect the keys after 4pm. He could then call Rose and maybe persuade her to join him. That was going to be harder than he'd thought.

When he'd been to the HR office the next morning and they said they'd let him know, Alec arguing it was going to be less expensive than the hotel, his DS was waiting for him as he entered the CID department.

"Sir, I tried to contact you earlier," Ellie Miller told him. "You told me to always keep my phone on."

"What are you getting at Miller? I had something to attend to," he replied as he saw his work phone was off. "Nothing you couldn't handle?"

"Well I could have done but it needed a senior officer and you took my job – Sir," she replied sarcastically.

Alec was not in the mood for her. He wondered if he admitted he was involved with someone and had left them behind, which was now true, if his annoying DS would leave him alone. Then he thought better of it.

"Well, what was so urgent?" he replied instead of hoping she'd think he was Human after all.

Another three weeks went by. Nothing was happening over the death of Danny Latimer, the case was drying up and so were the extra resources they had been given.

"Sir, are you coming to the pub with us, for Finlay's leaving do?" Ellie Miller had knocked on the door and asked him.

"What? No, you all go ahead, I have a call to make," Alec insisted, going in his jacket pocket for his wallet.

He fished a few notes out but she insisted it would cost more.

"Alright?" Ellie then asked him as he went to get some coins out of his pocket.

"Yep. I just have something to sort out Miller."

"Phoning your daughter?" Ellie managed a bit of a smile, after he had admitted he didn't see much of Daisy when he'd been invited to dinner one night.

"Ah, no, someone else," he replied, handing her the one pound coins.

"Did I take all your money – Sir?" Ellie then wanted to know.

"No, just didn't get to the cash machine," Alec admitted, not wanting to say he'd forgotten the last of the extra staff was leaving that day.

"Funny thing, Sir. I came across an old magazine in the dentist's the other day when I had to take Tom. A Daisy Hardy was on the cover of a supplement as being head bridesmaid at Rose Tyler's wedding last year," she told him, hoping he'd take the bait. "Is that your daughter?"

Alec sat back in his chair, observing her and the others outside sat on various desks waiting for her.

"Yes, it was her Miller, it was a long time ago, before her mother and I divorced. She was over the moon at winning that silly contest that was held," he admitted.

"She was really lucky Sir, I bet she won't ever forget it? Rose Tyler has gone very quiet lately, not like her to miss the chance of being in the society columns," Ellie grinned.

"They're waiting for you out there," Alec reminded her before she asked what he thought of Rose Tyler, her wedding and in particular, why Rose had fallen off the radar lately.

He had promised Rose in his last call to her that no-one would learn from him the reason why she had chosen to take time off work and more importantly, stay out of the news. He wasn't about to break that promise for anything.

When Alec had last called Rose, she had been unsure as to tell him she suspected something had come of their night together. She was sure she'd told him she wasn't taking any precautions because she'd been trying to get Jamie round to her way of thinking about starting a family but after being with Alec, she now knew that was never going to happen, unless Jamie got over his jealousy.

She also knew that Alec hadn't been the cause of Jamie holding back before they'd met so she had wondered what had caused it initially. A few weeks later though, she knew for certain something had happened with being with Alec as she sneaked out to visit the nearby clinic.

Who should she tell first, Alec or her mother? Then, one morning, Pete brought the post into the kitchen and handed Rose an official looking large envelope. He'd glanced at it and saw it was from the local court.

"Sorry Rose," Pete whispered in her ear and patting her shoulder as she took the envelope.

"Well open it then," her mother seemed to sense why Rose was being hesitant. "Ya have to face it sooner or later."

Chapter 26

Pete knew Rose didn't want to face what was certainly in the envelope that was stamped with the local court seal. He hoped the postman wasn't the type who would gossip about what was delivered.

"Give it to me," Pete offered as Rose sat back in the chair.

"What have you got there Rose?" Tony was curious. "Is it some photos?"

"No Tony, it's not photos," Jackie replied, trying to get him to finish and get ready for school. "Rose, why don't you drop Tony off this morning?" she then suggested, looking at Pete as he tried to take the envelope from Rose, who was staring at it.

It had her married name on it and she'd not used it for a few weeks, knowing Jamie wouldn't come back now, with Alec still being in the news. She had been outraged that a reporter had branded Alec the worst cop in Britain and had Pete's PA lodge a complaint to the editor, stating Alec was a personal friend of the Tyler family and did they want a legal fight on their hands if they didn't issue a statement saying it had been the personal opinion of the reporter responsible?

They had kind of backed down and issued an apology to Alec, saying they understood the pressure the police were under and they had been a bit harsh on him. It hadn't satisfied Rose but Pete believed it was the best that would happen. Alec had to smile when he'd seen it, his DS making a point of asking if he had friends in high places. He'd not mentioned it to Rose that he thought she was behind it, let her think she was helping him.

"What?" Rose snapped out of her daze. "I suppose so, are you ready Tony?"

"Yeah, Rose is taking me," Tony jumped off his chair, dropping his spoon in the bowl.

Jackie supposed Tony was still missing Jamie but glad Rose was back home. It had been heartbreaking to see Rose coming back with things from the apartment she'd shared with Jamie. She had since been told by Pete that Jamie had cleared his things out, although if he'd done so in person, Pete didn't know.

He was surprised Rose hadn't packed a case and gone down to see Alec in Broadchurch but the detective still hadn't caught the killer. Maybe Rose was staying back to give him time?

"Come on Tony, get ready," Jackie encouraged him as she got up. "Don't get him all giddy on the way," she then turned to Rose.

"He gets giddy on his own Mum," Rose reminded her.

When Jackie and Tony had left, Pete sat beside her.

"You knew this was coming Rose," Pete told her. "Best get it over with. I can get the lawyers to handle it all for you, it's doubtful Jamie will want to go through the divorce court."

"This is what I was dreading Dad," Rose admitted as Pete opened the envelope.

"I'll get someone round to read the documents to you and you can sign in front of them. How about before Tony gets home from school, say two?" Pete suggested. "There's no need to appear in court, if the press get hold of it, you'll need to go further than Broadchurch to escape," he smiled.

"Thanks Dad. What else can I do but sign?" Rose wanted to know. "How did things get so bad? It's not Alec's fault Jamie didn't like him being at the wedding."

"Rose, have you considered Alec may have only made things worse?" Pete asked her. "Maybe Jamie never got over the fact you told him about The Doctor?"

"Then it's a good thing I never told him who The Doctor was," Rose replied. "Leave that here Dad, I'll be here when someone from the legal team arrive."

"Right then," Pete agreed. "Want me to be here? I can if you want?"

"Will you? Thanks, I don't think mum can help me with this," Rose smiled. "What you said, about Jamie being jealous. Alec thinks the same, that he only made things worse."

"We'll never know," Pete put his hand on her shoulder.

When Rose had dropped Tony at school, telling him to have a good day and his nanny would collect him, she decided to go back to the local clinic.

"Name?" Rose was asked as she stood at the desk.

"Rose Smith," Rose replied, hoping she wasn't recognised. "I came the other day but I have some questions, if that's okay? I was a bit stunned."

"Everyone is," the receptionist smiled at her. "Take a seat over there."

Rose crossed over and sat on her own, everyone else sat playing with their phones. Should she text Alec and say she wanted to talk to him? She couldn't face him right now, not until the divorce papers were filed. If she went to Broadchurch, she would attract some attention.

If she had at least agreed to a divorce, maybe not too much damage would be caused and Alec would maybe be relieved she would soon be free. That had been one of the reasons she had stayed away from him, that of being married and starting a relationship with him.

Alec was running out of ideas for excuses to keep calling Rose, she had got to him and he really needed to find Danny's killer. Would it be better if he could get Rose to come and stay with him? If would cure his anxiety if nothing else but how would they explain her being here? Ellie Miller was onto him, bringing up the subject of Daisy being one of Rose's bridesmaids.

Maybe they would get away with saying Rose had come on her own at his invitation as her husband was busy? He stared at his phone, willing it to start ringing and it be Rose calling him. How had he got this bad at missing her?

Rose heard her name being called, putting her phone away as she tried to get the courage to call Alec.

"Rose Smith?" the nurse wanted to make sure. "The Doctor will see you now."

Rose almost shivered at the term but recovered as she was allowed to go in first.

"So can I keep coming here?" Rose finally asked after listening and being checked again.

"Yes but you'll get a hospital appointment and you'll be booked in for the date you're due," she was told.

"Well, I might not be here," Rose admitted. "I might be moving away."

She was really hoping she hadn't been caught.

"Just let us know if you do," she was told. "Any more questions?"

Rose was sure they had better things to do than listen to her so she got up and thanked them.

"Oh, there was one thing," Rose remembered partly why she'd gone back. "The dates are right, yeah?"

She had to be one hundred percent the baby couldn't be Jamie's but Alec was certain she'd had her first real time with him. She had told him she had never felt that way before, hadn't he guessed she didn't take anything, with wanting a baby? Neither of them knew in advance that they would start an affair that night Alec had stayed over.

She went off, being told the dates were right, she had to tell her mother she was pregnant, just not who by. She got home, finding her mother in the kitchen.

"Where did you get to?" Jackie wanted to know. "Ya weren't gossiping at the school were ya?"

"No Mum, I had to go somewhere. Can we talk?"

Jackie saw the look on her face and sat at the table, the cook and her assistant busying themselves.

"I know what ya want to talk about," Jackie leaned forward and put her hand on Rose's. "That Alec Hardy, that's what. Ya've fallen for him, I knew something was goin' on when he was here. Why didn't ya just admit it sweetheart?"

"How could I Mum? I didn't know what ya'd think, ya could have been mad at me and told me to find Jamie and go back to him. Well I can't now, can I? We all know what's in that envelope that came this morning."

"Ya already sound like ya gonna sign," Jackie replied. "If ya ask me, he doesn't deserve you, if he can't keep his jealousy under control. I mean it was only by accident Alec was at your wedding. What did Jamie expect, to have Alec banned from the ceremony?"

"I don't know Mum, I only know it got the better of Jamie, since Alec got in the news again. Ya should have seen him when we were away, he couldn't stop staring at the news headlines everywhere we went. He wouldn't leave it Mum."

"Sorry sweetheart. Your dad will keep it quiet, ya can be sure of that. What are ya gonna do?" Jackie wondered. "Ya know ya can move back here properly."

"I know Mum but I may take Alec up on his offer of going down to where he is," Rose admitted.

"Rose. That's only gonna make things worse," her mother warned her. "Everyone might think it's Jamie."

"Mum, they look different," Rose disagreed. "I bet Alec doesn't spend hours in the mirror spiking his hair up."

"Jamie only did it to make ya laugh," Jackie pointed out. "Well to make Tony laugh and want to copy him. Poor kid doesn't know Jamie's not coming back."

"Do ya want me to tell him?" Rose offered.

"No, it's best we do it," Jackie assured her. "Well, where did ya get to earlier then? Ya might as well tell me."

"Mum, I went for a test the other day, a pregnancy test," Rose admitted as she put her arms on the table and then put her head on them. "Go on, yell at me."

"Why would I do that?" Jackie wanted to know. "I hope it's Jamie's? How far on are ya?"

Rose was sure her mother was trying to catch her out. The last time she was with Jamie was the night before they came back after their short break. Now she knew it couldn't possibly be Jamie's, even if the date was slightly out. She had told the doctor at the clinic it was the night she spent with Alec but there was only just over a week's difference. From what Alec had said, it was doubtful Jamie would have made the extra effort, so to speak.

It had slowly dawned on her that Jamie had never intended for her to get pregnant, maybe he had hidden the fact he couldn't cope with a baby? Why hadn't he just come out and told her instead of forever putting it off? She glanced up at her mother.

"I might have known," Jackie looked at her. "It's not his, is it? Did ya mess around with Alec when he was here then?"

"Don't put it like that Mum," Rose replied. "We didn't 'mess' around as you put it. I was upset, I already knew Jamie wouldn't come back, he was obsessed with Alec being in the news again. He didn't trust me Mum."

"Well ya must have done something at the wedding," Jackie pointed out.

"We were all just messin' around dancing, that's all," Rose admitted, not thinking it was a good idea telling her about the conservatory. "How do I tell Alec?"

"Really Rose, ya should've been more careful," Jackie told her. "What if Jamie had come back? Would ya have gone back to him?"

"I don't know Mum, maybe if he promised to forget about Alec," Rose replied.

"He might have done, what about you?" she was asked. "Admit it Rose, when Alec was here the other week, I told Pete I wasn't sure about him being here."

"You sent dad to see if me and Alec were together?" Rose sat up properly.

"Well I may have hinted," Jackie had to admit. "Ya can't blame me."

"Well me and Alec were just talkin'," Rose replied, flopping down again. "Have we got any tonic water?"

Her mother called over to the cook's assistant, who found some in the large refrigerator and brought a glass over. Rose drank it and grinned at Jackie.

"Should I call Alec, tell him I have to see him or just go down there?" Rose wondered.

"Don't ya think it's best to tell him to his face?" Jackie replied. "Are ya up to having some lunch later? Elsie's makin' that soup ya like."

"I'll try Mum. I should at least call Alec but I'll do it later, when dad comes back. Alec needs to know a few things."

"Ya mean things ya never even told Jamie?" Jackie wanted to know. "Why did ya never confide in Jamie?"

"It didn't seem important Mum," Rose raised her head slightly, pushing the glass away. "Anyway, Alec's been askin' questions. I think he might believe what he's told, I don't think Jamie would have, he'd have dismissed it."

"Ya know what I think?" Jackie leaned forward, taking Rose's arm. "Jamie was in too much of a rush to go off here there and everywhere. Ya were never at home for months on end, it was like when ya used to go missin' before."

"It wasn't the same Mum," Rose reminded her. "Anyway, Alec's more serious than Jamie, he'll at least listen."

Later, down in Broadchurch, Alec had been distracted by going out after getting a call from the local vicar, who said he had something of interest to show him. He was handed a box containing a smashed up laptop.

"You say you took it from Tom Miller, last night?" he wanted to make sure.

"I found him smashing it with a rock while I was walking home," Paul Coates explained. "He threatened if I gave it to the police he would say I was abusing Danny."

"I hope that's not true?" Alec asked, putting the box under his arm.

"Really?" Paul asked him.

Alec made one of his faces and squinted at his phone after putting the box in the back of the police car he'd arrived in.

"What?" he answered as he saw it was Ellie Miller.

Ellie was tired of him not bothering to see who was calling.

"Sir, Mark Latimer just called. He said Chloe's boyfriend told them that Danny used to go off with him and Nigel Carter at the farm he lives on. They knew nothing about it, Danny had said it was okay. Seems a bit strange, Danny wasn't like that," she told him.

"That you know of Miller," Alec replied, leaning on the car roof. "I've just seen Paul Coates, he said he had to stop your boy and Danny fighting in computer classes. He said he reported it to you and the Latimers."

"No, he never told me," Ellie sounded surprised. "I'll have to ask Joe when I get home, whatever time that's going to be," she added, hoping to get home early for a change.

"Get your husband to bring Tom in for another interview at some point," Alec then told her. "Get Nigel Carter back in as well, I want to know what he was doing taking Danny with him on a farm. Was he into poaching?"

"How would I know?" Ellie huffed. "Are you on your way back? Only I'd like to get away early tonight, my youngest is giving Joe some trouble putting him to bed."

Alec would have thought with Joe Miller being at home all day with the young boy that he would be used to it. He ended the call and called his old friend back in Sandbrook.

"Can you get some information from a smashed up laptop?" he asked hopefully.

"Hello to you too Alec," another Scottish voice replied. "Got yourself another girlfriend yet? Ya might not be so grumpy then," his friend laughed.

"I'm working on it. If I send you the laptop, can you retrieve data, especially any messages."

"I can try Alec. Is it for that case you're working on then?" Alec was asked.

"Yes and it might be the answer to a lot of unanswered questions. Can you put a rush on it?"

"Don't I always?" his friend laughed.

Alec went off to arrange to get the evidence to his friend then went to his office. Ellie was waiting to see him but what he really wanted to do was call Rose.

"Miller, can you bring your boy's laptop in at some point?" Alec asked her before she got chance to say anything.

"I'll ask him. Why the sudden interest?' she wanted to know, forgetting her annoyance at him.

"Well we're running out of clues, in case you forgot Miller," Alec replied, looking at a folder on his desk. "If Danny was hiding something from his parents, maybe he told Tom?"

Rose had finished her meeting with Pete's law team, the main man himself plus an assistant had left, with the divorce papers.

"Can ya take care of everything?" Rose had asked after signing where indicated.

"Of course Miss Tyler, just leave everything with me," she had been told.

Pete had got back before their arrival and asked Rose if she was sure about signing.

"I don't have much choice Dad," Rose had sighed. "It doesn't even say where Jamie's living. Doesn't he have to put an address on them?"

"Ask when the legal team arrive," Pete had smiled. "I know it's not easy for you Rose, you did your best but it was Jamie's choice not to make it work."

"I know Dad. When I call Alec, can ya talk to him? I want him to know some of how I came to be here."

Alec had been about to leave when his phone rang and was pleased it was Rose. He had been wanting to tell her he'd got out of the hotel and a caravan was slightly better at present.

"Rose. How are you?" he asked with a grin on his face.

"Alec, I'm fine. I wanted to talk to ya," Rose greeted him.

"I hope it's that you are coming down to see me?" Alec smiled, hoping no-one left in the outer office was watching him.

"I was thinking about it," Rose admitted. "What if I'm spotted though?"

"Rose. You will be fine, I promise. I may have some news for you, if you do come down. I can't say over the phone love. I miss you Rose."

"I miss ya too Alec. Are ya still in that hotel?" Rose asked him.

"No, did I not mention I moved into a caravan? A few weeks ago, to get some privacy, the hotel owner was letting reporters stay there and there was a chance you may decide to visit me."

"I had things to sort out Alec," Rose made the excuse. "Anyway, I have news as well."

"Then I await your arrival," he replied. "Is the news about Jamie?"

"Some of it is," Rose had to admit. "Some of it's about what ya were askin' me when you were here."

"Ah, then I really cannot wait to hear it. Come down this weekend?" he asked hopefully.

"Friday then," Rose agreed. "I have to talk to Tony first, he'll be upset about Jamie, we have to explain Jamie's not comin' back."

"That is certain?" Alec wanted to make sure.

Rose went quiet. She had signed the divorce papers but she couldn't tell Alec on the phone.

"See ya Friday Alec," Rose then replied.

Alec supposed he wouldn't get her to come down before so he had to agree. He knew it wouldn't come soon enough but now, he had new leads such as why Nigel Carter was taking Danny out poaching and why Tom Miller was smashing up his laptop.

With a bit of luck, he should get the boy's messages sent to him and he could interview Tom again and see if he gave anything away. Was Tom protecting someone or was he still just being loyal to his school friend? He'd had the contents of Danny's laptop, including an online account but he wanted to know what had been said between the two boys.

Ellie Miller had got home and while Tom was eating, went to his room to find his laptop but there was no sign of it. Her husband went to join her while Tom was watching TV.

"What are you doing Ell?" Joe wanted to know.

"Looking for Tom's laptop," she replied, getting up from under the bed.

"Just ask him," Joe insisted. "What do you want if for?"

"Hardy wants it for the investigation," Ellie admitted.

"Are you being serious?" Joe looked at her. "What does he hope to find?"

Chapter 27

Pete had persuaded Rose to wait until she was with Alec before telling him anything.

"It's for the best Rose," Pete had told her over dinner. "Are you going to tell him the rest of it?"

"Yeah, not much else to tell really," Rose had agreed.

"Are you going to see Alec?" Tony had wanted to know. "Will you bring him back with you? I miss him, I miss Jamie too."

"I know sweetheart," Jackie had sympathised. "Rose'll ask Alec, won't ya Rose?"

Rose had just nodded, not sure Alec would even be talking to her after the news she was expecting his baby. How had it even happened, she'd wondered. She had been missing Jamie but things had just got out of hand that night, when Alec hadn't held back like Jamie had. She hadn't wanted to stop him either, even though she wasn't taking anything.

Now, she doubted Jamie would have been pleased if she had tricked him and would have still left. That would have made things difficult, Rose was sure of that. While Alec seemed different, she still wasn't sure about telling him but better now than later.

The next morning, Ellie had gone to work without Tom's laptop. She hadn't said anything before she'd left, wanting to talk to him later for an explanation, since her youngest was acting up over breakfast.

"He just misses you Ell," Joe had tried to tell her. "Can't someone else fill in for you once in a while?"

"It's my job to support the lead detective," Ellie had reminded him.

"Until late at night?" Joe argued when Tom had gone to the other room. "What do you find to do at that time?"

"It's complicated, we have to wait for lab results and other things," Ellie told him as she combed an unhappy toddler's hair.

"If you didn't hate Hardy so much, I could be suspicious," Joe half joked. "Hope he's got a girlfriend?"

"If he has, she's not in town," Ellie admitted as she put her work bag over her head. "I'll try and meet you at lunchtime."

"Hope so," Joe replied, trying to get Fred to eat more cereal. "Tell your boss you have to eat."

Ellie was wondering if Hardy was actually going to produce his so-called girlfriend but she doubted it. So now, she was standing in front of his desk.

"You could not find your son's laptop?" Alec was repeating what she'd said, knowing where the item actually was.

"I can't watch him all the time – Sir," Ellie was losing her temper with him. "Not with working all hours. My husband's been complaining about that again."

Alec thought maybe when Rose arrived, he'd be keener to finish work earlier than they had been doing but he wasn't going to tell his annoying DS that. It had been enough he'd admitted he sort of had a girlfriend.

"When he finds the laptop, bring it in," Alec ignored her remarks. "We need to get Nigel Carter back in, about taking Danny out with him."

"I know, I'll call him," Ellie tried to calm down. "Sir, about Tom and Danny falling out, Joe never said anything to me about it, I forgot to ask him, I'll ask him later."

"Yes, do that," Alec agreed, putting his specs on and reading something on his screen. "Have you see this?"

Ellie went around to join him, to see what he was talking about.

Rose was seeing Tony off to his football practice her mother had signed him up for then she went back into the kitchen.

"More tonic water is it Miss Rose?" the cook smiled cheekily at her.

Rose tried not to blush as she headed for the fridge.

"I was worse than that when I had my eldest," the cook continued.

"I feel like I want to throw up all the time but nothing comes out," Rose complained as she opened the bottle.

"Oh, poor dearie," the cook replied as she flattened some pastry for an apple pie she was baking. "Will you be in for lunch?"

"Yuck, don't mention lunch," Rose made a face as she took the glass over to the table. "Maybe some of your veg soup, I might keep it down."

She had felt worse than normal when she'd got up. Now, how was she going to manage to drive down to Broadchurch? It was over a hundred miles, she may have to be driven down there. Still, it wouldn't be too bad, she wouldn't be going far without Alec once she was there and she could call the driver back if things didn't work out.

Jackie had been looking for her as Rose left the kitchen.

"What was wrong with you this morning?" she asked a pale looking Rose. "Blimey, you look worse than earlier."

"Gee, thanks Mum, that makes me feel a lot better," Rose told her. "I think I'll go lie down again."

"Do ya want me to call Doctor Blake?" Jackie asked.

"No Mum, I'll be fine but I might have to be driven down to Broadchurch," Rose managed a smile. "The only thing is, I'll have to call Alec to show me where he's stayin'. Then he'll wonder why I've not driven down myself. I can hardly drag my cases into the police station and ask for him."

Jackie laughed at the thought.

"Look Rose, he seems a decent man, he'll stick by ya," she told Rose.

"I know Mum but what if he's not ready to be told about the other stuff?" Rose replied.

"If he cares about ya, he will be," Jackie patted her on the shoulder. "Go upstairs then, before Tony gets back, he'll be giddy if his team wins. I'll be glad when it's Monday and he goes back to school. These summer holidays are far too long."

"They never seemed long enough," Rose disagreed. "I might text Alec and warn him I'm getting a lift down there."

"Great idea," Jackie laughed. "Don't ya think he'll ask why?"

Rose thought she may even feel better by then, well she hoped so anyway. She had a few more days to wait and wondered if maybe she should surprise him by turning up early. No, it wasn't a good idea, she decided as she lay on her bed, hugging a pillow and hoping the sickness would subside.

Tony was a bit of a handful when he came back from playing football but she loved him dearly, having grown up on her own. She hoped Alec might take Jamie's place of being her younger brother's hero, since the boy needed someone to look up to now.

At least Alec would be more sensible with Tony than Jamie had been, sometimes it was hard to tell who was the kid and who was the adult.

She picked up her phone and started composing a text to Alec, wondering how he'd react if she went down a day early. Alec was just interviewing Nigel Carter, who had taken his time coming in.

"I saw nuthin' wrong," Nigel was being unrelenting. "Danny said it was okay."

"You took the boy's word?" Alec then asked. "You never thought of calling one of his parents? Do you know what it's doing to them now, knowing you put Danny in danger? How do we know you're not responsible for Danny's death hmm? To stop him from telling Beth and Mark?"

"Why would I kill my best friend's son?" Nigel objected, banging his fist on the table and his solicitor giving him a warning look.

"What were you doing, going into the woods on that farm?" Alec wanted to know.

"What you think?" Nigel sat back on the chair. "After birds, the farm belonged to Dean's uncle, he said they wouldn't be missed."

Then Alec had an idea.

"Do you want to change your statement from the night Danny died? We know you were not with Mark Latimer."

Nigel whispered something to his solicitor, who nodded back.

"I was up at the farm on the cliff top, going after pheasants," Nigel finally admitted. "I ran out of diesel so I took some from the tractor and cut the fence, to make it look like a robbery."

So that was what had happened that had taken himself to the farm on the morning Danny had been found, Alec realised.

"Miller, make sure he's processed for the offence, read him his rights," Alec turned to Ellie, who thought she could trust Nigel.

"Did you ever take Tom with you?" she wanted to know as she got up.

Alec let it slide, her asking personal questions but she had a right to know.

"No," Nigel insisted. "I would've told Joe, wouldn't I?"

Now Ellie was beginning to worry, since Paul Coates had supposedly told Joe that Tom and Danny had fallen out and Joe hadn't bothered telling her. Her husband now had some explaining to do, including why he'd never finished decorating their bedroom if Fred was having a nap during the day. What else hadn't Joe told her, she now wondered as she followed Nigel out after telling the officer outside to inform Nigel of his rights.

Alec sat a while, wondering what was going on now Nigel had admitted taking Danny out without the boy getting permission. What with his DS's husband hiding something from her, what else was Joe Miller hiding? He was getting more questions than answers and he wasn't too happy about it.

He was about to get up when his phone buzzed that he had a message. He smiled when he saw it was from Rose. He quickly read it and replied asking if he should call her. Rose thought if she said no, he'd think she was having second thoughts about joining him, so she agreed and her phone rang a few seconds later.

"Rose, are you okay?" Alec asked her, hoping nothing was wrong.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was thinking, about when I come down there."

"You're not having second thoughts?" he wanted to make sure.

"What? No, it's not that," she tried to assure him. "I was thinking about maybe coming down a day early. Is that okay?"

"Rose, I would love for you to come down a day early," he almost laughed. "Are you driving? It's a long way you know?"

"Well you came up to see me that weekend," she reminded him.

"Ah, that was worth it," he did laugh. "I keep thinking about it, if I could have stayed longer, I would have done. Can you get someone to bring you maybe?"

Rose thought it was going to be easier if he was asking her that.

"Yeah, someone can bring me down, not dad though or Tony will want to come as well," Rose laughed.

"Maybe he could come another time?" Alec suggested, wanting Rose to himself. "You sound a little off, are you sure you are okay?'

"I just miss ya," Rose made the excuse.

"Are you sure that is all?" Alec wanted to know.

"Is that you playing detective?" Rose teased him.

"I will show you how to play detective when you get here," he teased her back.

"Promise?" Rose laughed. "I can't tell ya what's wrong on the phone Alec," she then went serious.

"Then tell me when you get here. Call me when you are on the way, then I will meet you at the caravan, I will text you where it is. The site is almost next to the police station, it will be easy for you to find. Maybe your friend Jake could bring you?"

"I can ask, see ya then? How are ya gettin' on with the case? Need any help?"

"Things are coming together, finally," he admitted. "Everyone is hiding something, two things have come to my attention since yesterday."

"Things are looking up then?" Rose hoped.

"Yes but when you arrive, it will give me a reason to finish work early," he then told her. "My DS has been complaining she never sees her family."

"She'll be happy then," Rose replied. "Bye then, I'll let ya get back to work."

"I was just interviewing someone, who may hold some clues," he also admitted. "I look forward to seeing you, we have a lot to discuss."

"Can't wait but I have to warn ya Alec, you may not like things about my past."

"Rose, we can start fresh, if you want?" he asked her. "Forget about your marriage to Jamie, it seems to me you made a mistake, if he was too similar to the friend you lost."

"Yeah, I realise that now Alec. I met him not long after I'd lost The Doctor, I suppose that was why I fell for him."

"It's okay, it happens love," Alec told her. "Can I just ask, are you doing anything about it?"

He didn't want to ask her if she was getting a divorce over the phone, just in case.

"Alec, can we talk about it when I see ya?" Rose replied.

"Sure. See you soon love," Alec agreed.

Rose ended the call, wishing he'd done a video but he probably wasn't used to it. Still not feeling too good, she called Jake. He could drive her car down there and either bring it back or get the train if she decided to keep it there.

Jake was amused when Rose asked him to drive her down to Broadchurch.

"So ya finally doing something about it Rosie?" he teased her after laughing.

"Stop it Jake, it's complicated and you know it. Will ya take me? Dad will give ya time off," Rose replied.

"I suppose so then? Seeing it's quiet here, now Jamie's not causing chaos everywhere or annoyed people 'cos he's in one of his silly moods," Jake laughed.

"Don't remind me Jake, I'd rather forget about it, why do ya think I've stayed away?" Rose asked him.

"Something to do with a certain document ya got?" Jake wondered.

"Dad told ya then?" Rose didn't sound surprised. "Did he tell ya the other thing as well?"

"What do ya think?" Jake replied. "No wonder ya want me to take you down there."

That agreed, she ended the call and thought she had better go back downstairs for Tony getting back. She had to tell him she was going a day early. After playing with him for a while, she went to start packing for her trip, since Alec had said he was in a caravan and there wouldn't be a lot of room, unless she used the wardrobe in the spare room.

Alec had been pleased Rose was arriving a day early, now he only had to survive until Thursday. He would then make it up to his DS for keeping her working late but he wouldn't let on why, Miller would think he was going soft and he couldn't have that.

He expected she and Rose would meet at some point, Rose would be hard to hide though they would have to come up with a reason she was in the town. Rose was probably good at cover stories, it seemed since her mother married Pete Tyler, her whole life and become one big cover story.

He now wished he'd met Rose sooner, before she had met Jamie. To him, the other man hadn't deserved someone like Rose and suspected Rose had got carried away with it all after losing her friend. Well if Jamie couldn't accept the similarities, that was his problem.

Had Rose been happy after the two of them had met? She seemed relieved it was about to all be over, putting up with Jamie's jealousy must have been tiring. He went back up to his office, Ellie following him in. She was making a habit of doing that, he noted.

"Everything okay Sir?" Ellie asked him as she took it she was invited to sit down.

"Yes, fine. Did Carter get processed?" he wanted to know without going into too many details.

"He's being dealt with. Do you really think he had anything to do with Danny's death? I mean he might be a bit of a rogue but he wouldn't hurt Danny. I've seen them together when we've been over for Sunday lunch," Ellie told him.

"There are two sides to most people Miller," he reminded her. "What happened about your son's laptop?"

Ellie wished he hadn't reminded her.

"I'll have to ask Tom when I get home, if I get home early again," she hinted.

She wished this girlfriend of his would put in an appearance, then he might get the concept of finishing work at a decent time.

"Do that then but I will need to interview him again," Alec replied. "He may hold some clues about Danny that we are not aware of. Your son may not even know himself," he added so as not to sound accusing.

When Ellie got home, she called Tom into the kitchen.

"Where's your laptop Tom? Don't lie to me, it could be important," she told him.

"Mum? Why would it be?" Tom wanted to know.

"Did you send emails and messages to Danny on it?" Ellie then asked him.

"Mum, that's private," Tom insisted. "Is it to do with Danny dying?"

"Yes and my boss wants the laptop to examine, so you had better hand it over to me by morning," Ellie then ordered him.

She didn't notice the guilty look on Tom's face as he went off. Tom was now worried that Paul had somehow handed the broken laptop to the detective already and was trying to fool himself into admitting smashing it up to get rid of the messages he and Danny had sent each other when they had fallen out.

After Ellie had left, Alec got the news he'd been waiting for – the breakdown of what had been said between Tom and Danny. There was an email from his friend, with attachments of the emails and a note that the laptop hard drive was damaged but he'd managed to get copies of the emails from the server.

Alec sent an email back, saying he owed his friend a favour. The reply was that if he had a girlfriend, make sure he held on to her. He fully intended holding on to Rose, he wasn't like her almost ex husband, going off and leaving her because he couldn't keep his jealousy in check.

Now, he had to get to the bottom of why Tom and Danny had fallen out and what they had been fighting about in front of the vicar. As he read the emails with interest, he was beginning to get the picture. Tom had got jealous that Danny had got himself a new friend, which could throw light on who killed the boy. He doubted the friend was Nigel Carter but the man had still committed an offence.

He now had to find out who that friend could have been and how jealous Tom Miller had got when he'd found out.

Chapter 28

Alec also wondered why Rose was being so mysterious. He supposed he didn't know her really well, they had just been attracted to each other and in his case from the moment he had gone to her wedding. Jamie must have felt insecure to just assume Rose would call the wedding off the moment his almost double had walked in on the preparations.

Something had come over him, that was sure. He had been indifferent at the news Daisy was to be Rose's bridesmaid and had only gone at her insistence but his mind had been changed upon meeting Rose. After that, until Rose had called him, he'd had to hide the fact he still carried a torch for her and something had given that night.

He had to get whoever had killed Danny locked up so he could sort things out with her, now he didn't have to pretend any more. He got up and put his jacket on and decided to call at one of the food stalls along the harbour and take something back to his caravan.

Rose hadn't said how long she would stay but he hoped there would be enough room for all her clothes. He had to smile at the thought of having to move his own things to one of the smaller rooms just so she could hang her things up in the double bedroom.

Ellie got home and since young Fred was in his chair, wearing the spaghetti rather than eating it, she asked her husband about what she'd been told about Tom going off.

"What are you talking about Ell?" Joe asked as he wiped Fred's face and getting objection from the toddler.

"What I said. Did you give Tom permission to go off into the woods with Nigel? We had him in today over something else and he said Danny had gone with him."

"Doesn't mean Tom went, does it?" Joe asked her. "Why don't you ask him?"

"I intend to," Ellie replied, still annoyed about being kept in the dark. "Oh and another thing. Did Paul say anything about Tom and Danny falling out?"

"Thought I'd told you?" Joe replied, moving the messy dish out of Fred's grasp. "See, you're working too hard these days," he added with a grin.

Ellie was pretty sure she would have remembered something like that but let it go.

"I asked Tom for his laptop this morning, did he leave it somewhere?" Ellie asked instead.

"Not with me, eh Fred?" he asked the youngster trying to get out of his chair. "What's with all the questions suddenly? Bringing work home with you?" Joe teased her.

"Hardy wants to look at Tom's laptop, to see if there were any messages from Danny on it," Ellie told him.

"Didn't he look at Danny's laptop?" Joe wanted to know as he put Fred on the floor.

"Danny may have deleted them," Ellie replied.

"Tom seemed upset over Danny, to say they'd supposed to have fallen out," Joe stated.

"Then he'd want to help find out who killed his friend," Ellie was a bit surprised.

When she thought about it, Tom hadn't seemed that surprised when he'd been told the news. Maybe it hadn't hit him at the time, she wondered.

"Can you bring Tom to the station in the morning, with his laptop then?" Ellie changed the subject.

"Who's going to look after Fred?" Joe wanted to know.

"I can watch him for a few minutes," Ellie replied.

Joe grunted his reply of he'd have to manage to bring Tom in if her boss insisted and went off to give Fred his bath. Ellie went to find Tom, who had been dreading she wouldn't give up if he said he'd lost his laptop. Had Paul ignored the threat and given the laptop to his mother's new boss?

"You have until morning to find your laptop Tom," Ellie told him when he said he'd forgotten where he'd left it.

"Okay Mum, I'll have it," Tom insisted. "Why do I have to see DI Hardy again?"

"You want to find out who killed Danny, don't you?" Ellie reminded him. "Did you fall out with him?"

"No, why?" Tom denied the accusation.

The next morning, Jake arrived early, being fed by Jackie because she always complained he was as skinny as a certain person they used to know, then he loaded what Rose was taking with her into the back of her car.

"Hey, I won't be away long," she told Tony, who didn't want her to go.

"Will you bring Alec back with you?" he asked her again.

"I'll try but it may not be right away. I'll tell him you want to see him, okay?"

Tony nodded and went to his mother. Jake thought they'd better set off before Rose changed her mind and stayed at home, then the baby she was having wouldn't know his or her father because Rose would back out.

Things were not going to go well when Ellie got to work and told Alec Tom was busy looking for his laptop.

"Did he leave it somewhere else then?" Alec asked Ellie.

"What do you mean by that?" Ellie wanted to know. "I trust him, he wouldn't have taken it anywhere, what are you implying?"

"I'm just trying to piece things together Miller," Alec reminded her, putting his glasses on the desk, a folder in front of him. "This folder contains the messages from Danny's social media."

"I've read them," Ellie reminded him. "I don't even know how Danny got an account, I wouldn't allow Tom to get one," she insisted.

Alec rubbed his face.

"Are you saying he got one and defied me?" Ellie then asked him.

"That is what I will be asking Tom. What time is he coming in?" Alec replied.

"When Joe can get him here, he has to get Fred organised," Ellie told him. "I'll have to look after him when they get here. I just hope Tom found his laptop."

Alec knew her son was never going to find it, the item was in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet. He'd got the results he'd wanted and his suspicions had been confirmed. The two boys had fallen out and that was what Tom was trying to hide from his parents.

If he was right, there were going to be repercussions. Ellie wouldn't want to hear the truth but she had to be told. Having Rose turn up later wasn't such a good idea now but she would have already set off and he couldn't very well ask her to turn back. It had sounded like there was something she wanted to tell him and hopefully it was that now she was going ahead with her divorce, it would be that she wanted to stay with him.

Rose wouldn't travel all that way just to tell him she was having second thoughts about their relationship, would she? Ellie had gone off to await her husband's and sons' arrival so he took a few minutes to go through the results he'd just got back.

Why wasn't he surprised that Danny seemed to have found another friend? Someone obviously older, an adult almost certainly who was turning the boy's head, filling him with promises and maybe that was where Danny had got the money found under his bed from.

That adult was becoming clear from the pieces he'd put together. Everyone in the town seemed to be harbouring secrets and the things that had been revealed during the investigation were astounding. Secret affairs, mothers with sons in denial, a newsagent with a secret past who had been hounded to death by the town turning on him and then there was the vicar himself, who had been trying to hold the town together.

He needed someone to talk to about it other than his friend. Rose was a Torchwood agent, maybe she'd understand but that depended what she had on her mind when she got here.

Rose was quiet once they'd left London behind, Jake thinking she was either still tired or she was planning what she was going to tell Alec when they got there. There was a 50-50 chance she'd refuse to get out of the car once there or that Alec wouldn't take the news very well and she would drive home herself.

"You're quiet Rosie," Jake grinned at her through the mirror as she glanced up.

"What do ya want me to say Jake?" she replied, easing the seatbelt slightly.

"You should get one of those pads for that," Jake advised her. "You're not gonna get any thinner ya know."

"Shut up Jake," Rose joked. "I don't wanna admit it yet, do I? What am I gonna do once I do get bigger? I'll have to try and hide it by wearing loose fitting clothes. Geez, my mum will want to take me to MotherCare," she then laughed. "I'm not gonna be seen dead in those frumpy maternity dresses."

They both laughed then Jake saw a sign for a motorway stop in just over a mile and suggested they pulled in.

"Are ya gonna call Alec?" Jake wondered as he put drinks on the table.

"He's probably busy," Rose replied, taking her decaf tea from the tray. "I'll call him when we get there. Am I doing the right thing Jake?"

"No point asking me," he grinned, drinking his coffee and knowing Rose was jealous she'd had to cut down on caffeine. "Where did ya say he was staying?"

"On the seafront, the caravan park. Should be easy to find," Rose replied.

They set off again then came off the motorway, since it went off in the wrong direction towards Somerset instead of Dorset, then Jake followed the directions from the map on his phone, passing signs for other seaside towns and soon saw a sign for Broadchurch.

They had made good time and were then finally on the road that led to the harbour.

"Gettin' nervous?" Jake teased her.

Rose refused to answer, just smiling to herself but she was getting butterflies in her tummy as well as already feeling off again.

"Ya should have had more than toast before we set off," Jake reminded her, since Jackie had put a plateful of breakfast items in front of him when he'd called and Rose was feeling sick just looking at it.

"Yuck," was all Rose had to say to him.

They drove along the harbour, across the river and Jake spotted the caravan park on the right but turned left to find somewhere to park and spotted a car park on the corner.

"Best call him," Jake told her as he was finding some coins in his pocket to pay for a parking ticket.

He pulled a face as he had to pay nearly as much for an hour as for all day parking and took the ticket back to the car. Rose was waiting for Alec to answer his phone but only got the answering service.

"Alec, it's Rose. Me and Jake are across the road, we just passed the police station. We're gonna go get a drink just opposite so can ya meet us there? Okay, bye then."

"He'd best not be more than an hour," Jake grinned as they set off back to the corner, coming out of the car park and thinking it was funny the car park was sort of just above the café area.

Rose decided to take her chances trying to eat something while she waited for Alec to call her back. Alec had felt his phone buzzing in his pocket and wondered if it was Rose saying she had arrived. He was still interviewing Tom and Joe Miller as the latter had taken his time arriving.

Ellie had gone down to meet them and Alec noticed she was gone for nearly half an hour. What was she doing, he'd wondered as he waited, having set the camera up.

"Tom, did you find your laptop?" Ellie had asked her son as she noticed he was empty-handed.

"I don't know where it is Mum," Tom admitted to her.

"Well DI Hardy's not going to be pleased," Ellie warned him. "Joe, did you help him look for it?"

"I was seeing to Fred," Joe replied as the youngster tried to get to her. "You try getting him ready when he just wants to play."

Ellie had often regretted going back to work, especially now she had a grump for a boss. She hoped Hardy's girlfriend was going to turn up at some point, if the woman was real.

"Well we'd better get upstairs then, before Hardy sends someone to look for us," Ellie decided as she pressed the lift button, Fred trying to reach it.

Joe stopped her as the lift door opened.

"Is this really necessary?" he questioned her.

"If Hardy says it is," Ellie replied, pressing the button to keep the lift door open.

"Kids lose things all the time," Joe reminded her.

"Don't defend him," Ellie snapped back. "Tom's old enough to take care of his things."

"I'm here Mum," Tom objected.

They finally got upstairs and now, Tom was admitting to Alec the laptop had been stolen at school.

While Joe was questioning how that had happened, Alec went into the drawer containing the smashed up laptop.

"You mustn't lie Tom," Alec told him.

"I'm not," Tom insisted, making Joe shift in his seat.

"Is this your laptop?" Alec asked Tom, putting it on the desk.

"Where did you get it from?" Tom nodded.

"From Paul Coates, who you threatened that if you gave it to the police, you would accuse him of all sorts of things," Alec replied.

"You threatened the vicar?" Joe turned to Tom.

"We found the messages you and Danny had been sending each other," Alec continued.

When he read them out, Joe was looking more uncomfortable than his son.

"Did you hurt Danny, Tom?" Alec then asked.

"What?" Joe stood up. "It's just kids messing about."

"I'm talking to Tom," Alec reminded him.

"No, this stops now," Joe insisted. "If you want to question him further, I'm getting our solicitor."

Alec put the laptop and folder back in a drawer and stood up to switch the camera off.

"Fine, do that," Alec told Joe.

Now he knew he had them, he knew he was on the right track. He just had one more piece of the puzzle to solve the case – Danny's missing mobile phone to be switched on. If his suspicions were right, whoever had it was going to panic very soon.

"How did you get on?" Ellie wanted to know as they headed for the lift.

"Not now Ell," Joe replied, trying to take Fred from her as the toddler squirmed.

Ellie looked puzzled as Joe steered Tom into the lift, meaning Ellie wasn't invited to go with them. Ellie stared after them then went back inside but saw Alec was talking on his mobile. He was calling Rose back.

"Hi sweetheart," he greeted her when Rose answered with a 'Whatcha'. "So you are across the road? Give me ten minutes and I will join you. Is Jake still with you?" he asked, not wanting to walk across and find she was on her own.

"Yeah, he says hurry up or he'll have to pay for an all day ticket," Rose laughed as Jake playfully hit her arm.

Alec thought it was a good sign Rose was laughing, she wouldn't have bad news.

Alec said goodbye and started by turning his monitor off and going for his jacket as Ellie came in without knocking.

"Sir, what happened?" she wanted to know as Alec continued. "Joe wouldn't tell me."

"Not now Miller, I have to be somewhere," Alec replied, going to straighten his tie.

"Is it more important than you telling me what you said to Tom and Joe?" Ellie challenged him.

"Tom lied about losing his laptop Miller," Alec replied, wanting to get past her. "He was caught smashing it up."

"What?" Ellie gasped.

"He was caught by the vicar, who handed it to me," Alec told her. "I really have to go now."

Ellie stood to one side but called after him.

"Is Tom now a suspect?" she wanted to know.

"No but he holds vital clues," Alec admitted. "I have something to take care of, when I come back, we have work to do. Go join your family Miller but be careful what you say in public."

Ellie stared after him, wondering what he meant by that. He wasn't going to meet his girlfriend, was he? She had convinced herself he was making it up but maybe now he wasn't. She dashed over to the balcony door and leaned over, just in time to see him crossing the road.

Rose and Jake were sat where they could see anyone coming from across the road, well Jake was anyway, Rose couldn't bring herself to stare in the direction Alec would come from. Jake was teasing her about it.

"Wanna swap places?" he asked without any expression on his face.

Rose kicked his leg under the table in response.

"Stop it Jake. What if he changes his mind?"

"Don't be daft," Jake replied. "I thought you were hungry," he pointed to the food that had just arrived. "It's gonna get cold."

"I'm too wound up to eat," Rose decided. "You have it if ya want?"

"Rose, ya have to eat, ya have someone else to think about now," he reminded her.

"Shush, don't tell everyone," she then hissed at him.

"Ya needn't worry, look who's here," Jake then pointed as he saw Alec looking around for them and waved.

"Jake," Alec recognised Rose's friend. "Rose?" he then looked at Rose who was trying not to look back.

"Want me to disappear?" Jake volunteered.

"No, it's fine," Alec insisted as he sat on one of the chairs and took a menu from the table.

Jake had thought trust Rose to pick a section of the catering area that had tablecloths on actual tables and had chairs instead of benches at the end nearest the road.

Alec could see already that Rose was nervous.

"I will just go order something," Alec told them as he got back up. "Not eating?" he pointed to Rose's plate.

"Yeah, best not let it get cold," Jake answered for her. "Rose, eat up."

Rose pulled a face at him as Alec went off.

"He's gonna know something's wrong," Jake continued.

"Only if you give the game away Jake," Rose told him.

"That won't need me," Jake then grinned.

Rose picked up her fork and dug it into the baked potato with cheese on top. Maybe she should eat something or Alec would notice.

"So, how's the investigation going?" Jake asked as Alec sat down again.

"Well, we have a few new developments, I would say it should be all wrapped up shortly," Alec told him.

"That's good then," Rose then found her voice.

"Yeah, well done mate," Jake agreed as Alec's order arrived.

"How was your journey Rose?" Alec turned towards her.

"Fine, we only stopped once," Rose answered him, picking at her food again.

Alec had noticed. Was she feeling unwell or was it just nerves, he wondered. If she was unwell, she would have put her journey off but something had made her go ahead, something important to bring her here a day early. It didn't take him being a detective to work it out.

"It's good to finally see you again Rose," Alec then told her. "Thanks for bringing her here Jake, I was worried about her driving all this way on her own."

"No worries Alec," Jake grinned. "She just doesn't like me moving the driver's seat, do ya?"

"Is that so?" Alec smiled, patting her hand.

Maybe Jake was giving him some clues, not that he didn't already have his suspicions, what with Rose picking at her food and eating mainly the salad and being quiet when she'd had plenty to say before. That was on the phone, now they were face to face and she seemed very nervous to him.

"I have to go move the car," Jake remembered. "Unless ya can get me out of a parking fine Alec?"

"Not my department," Alec laughed. "I'm sure the car park there is one of the last to be checked," he nodded above where they were seated. "Just drive it into the caravan park opposite and I will tell reception the number, I was not sure how Rose would be getting here. Walk across with me Rose?"

Rose got up when Alec stood behind her and moved her chair and she took his arm when he offered it.

"Are you okay Rose?" he whispered to her.

"Yeah, why?" Rose asked him. "I was just nervous about seeing ya again, that's all."

"You sounded fine when you called me," he reminded her as they reached the road and Jake had gone off.

They walked to the corner and crossed the road just as Jake caught up with them and he found a spot to park just by the reception building. Alec went inside to give the car details, he had already told them his girlfriend was arriving, getting him a funny look. They got into the car and Alec directed Jake to where he was staying.

"Think I'll stay for a holiday," Jake laughed as they got out once he'd backed into the parking space.

"Tony will be jealous," Rose smiled as Alec helped her out of the car, since he'd got in the front with Jake.

Jake started getting Rose's things out of the back while Alec opened the door. Rose looked around once inside, she'd not been in a caravan since in her old world they'd borrowed one of her mother's friend's caravan that shook every time they moved around.

"Leave those there Jake," Alec told him as Jake put two cases and a bag on the floor.

"Where's you're car Alec?" Rose wanted to know.

"In the police garage. Don't worry about it Rose, I can park opposite when I come back later. I have to get back to work, are you staying a while Jake?" Alec asked him.

"I'll have to check the train times back to London," Jake grinned.

"Jake, I really don't need my car, do I Alec?" Rose asked.

"Well, if you want to stay around here, then no and you can always get a cab up into the town," Alec suggested. "Jake, can you give us a minute?"

"Yeah, sure, I'll wait in the car then?" Jake agreed, knowing Alec already suspected something.

Rose watched him leave and sat on the sofa, Alec sitting next to her.

"Got a kiss for me?" he smiled. "It is good to see you Rose."

"I was fine when I set off," Rose began to tell him.

"I'm sure you were. You got more nervous as you got closer then? Why would you be nervous seeing me again?" he wanted to know. "You are getting a divorce from Jamie, are you not?"

"Yeah, he sent papers. Dad said he'd keep it all quiet. The last thing I want is for it to be all over the trashy newspapers in their gossip columns," Rose replied. "There's something else Alec and ya might not want me to stay."

Chapter 29

Alec looked at her wondering what it could possibly be. Was she trying to tell him she couldn't see him any more? She could have told him that on the phone, if she'd wanted to, after all, she had said Jamie had sent divorce papers rather than facing her.

"Then tell me Rose," he urged her. "What is it eh? If you have come all this way, arriving early then it must be urgent. Have I rushed you in any way? Were you not ready to come down and stay with me?" he needed to know.

"What? No Alec, it's nothing you've said and I decided to come down early," Rose sounded surprised.

"Then why have Jake wait for you, if you intended just coming to see me to tell me something?" Alec wanted to know, trying to move around. "Just tell me."

"Okay," Rose agreed, leaning back. "Can ya tell Jake to go get some food? I couldn't eat on the way down," she smiled.

Alec had noticed she'd left her food where they had met but got up and went over to Jake, who was trying to sing to something Rose liked on the radio and tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

"Something wrong?" Jake asked him as Alec approached.

"Rose ask if you could get her something to eat. Bring it in when you return, she may be ready to leave anyway," Alec replied.

Jake turned the radio off. Had Rose backed off? He hoped not.

"Yeah, we passed some food stalls on the way in. I'll take my time shall I?" Jake grinned as he started the car. "I know what ya thinking Alec but trust me, she wouldn't have come all this way for nothing."

With that, Jake set off up the roadway, wondering why Alec looked puzzled. What had made the detective think Rose wasn't staying? If he knew Rose though, she would be stalling. Alec got back inside, finding Rose making tea, the kettle switched on.

"Leave that eh?" Alec suggested. "Don't put off what you have to say, please Rose. I have been wondering all morning if you were going to get here or turn around and go back home," he smiled nervously.

"Yeah, sorry. I really am nervous Alec, there's no easy way for me to tell ya. I did sign the divorce papers by the way."

"I never said otherwise Rose," Alec reminded her. "So why are you so nervous?"

"When ya came to see me, when I asked ya to help me find Jamie, why did ya agree?" Rose wanted to know.

"Need you ask?" Alec questioned her. "You must know I care about you Rose?"

They went to sit down again, Alec hoping Jake really would take his time.

"I know Alec and I care about you," Rose replied, taking his hand. "I know something gave that night Alec, I told ya I'd been tryin' to get Jamie to change his mind about startin' a family."

Alec knew what she'd told him meant and Jamie would have been trapped.

"You are trying to tell me he never would have changed his mind?" Alec asked, not remembering if he'd asked her before.

"I don't think he would've," Rose admitted. "Anyway, I'd stopped taking precautions, just in case and then he'd have no excuses but I know now that, well, something had been stopping him."

"He could not get over his jealousy, of me?" Alec concluded. "I think we both knew that Rose. So, you were not taking anything the night we were together?"

"No. Are ya mad at me Alec, for not saying?" Rose dared ask him.

Alec got up suddenly and paced the caravan, Rose thinking the worse. Then he suddenly held his hand out to her, a smile on his face.

"Mad at you?" he asked, as Rose got up. "Rose, did you think I had not known you were not taking anything? Of course I knew but I did not know at the time that Jamie held back on purpose. I thought it was due to him not wanting a family but there was another reason. Am I right?"

"What do ya mean Alec?" Rose asked him. "Ya think he always backed off because he thought I wanted to be with you instead of him?"

"Well partly," Alec replied, brushing her hair from her face. "There could have been another reason."

"Like he was happy enough with having Tony around?" Rose wondered.

"Well maybe but that was not it Rose. Did you ever consider that he could not have any of his own?"

Rose stumbled back, Alec catching her and sitting her down.

"I am sorry Rose but did you never consider that?" Alec was concerned at her reaction.

"I didn't want to Alec," Rose admitted. "So when he saw ya at the wedding and how much ya looked like him, he thought I'd run off with ya?"

"Well something like that," Alec replied. "He maybe thought he could hold off for a while and you would not notice and made excuses every time you brought up the subject."

"Well, I'll never know, will I? I mean I could have Jake find out for me, if anything came up on his Torchwood medical records, they didn't have to tell me if he'd told them not to. Alec, I might never have found out if he hadn't got jealous over you."

"You said he got jealous with other men," he reminded her, watching for Jake returning.

"Yeah but it suddenly stopped, I think dad must've warned him," Rose replied. "Why didn't he talk to me about it, he could have got some help. I don't know Alec, maybe we're wrong?"

Alec could see she didn't want to face the facts.

"So, what do you have to tell me Rose? Did something happen that night? I would have come up to see you, you know?" he smiled, forgetting about going back to work.

He knew he'd gone over his usual lunch break and Miller would be calling him soon. He'd have to think of some excuse or she would get suspicious and think she'd been right about him having his girlfriend coming to see him. That would please Miller no end, that she was right all along but what he was about to discover, that she wouldn't want to know about.

What had happened during Tom's interview was not adding up, the way the boy kept looking at his father. Ellie had taken the chance to join her family in the café just outside the police station.

"What?" Ellie was asking her husband and looking at Tom. "You threatened the vicar?"

"I've already asked him that," Joe told her. "What was Hardy implying?"

"He was in too much of a hurry to tell me," Ellie admitted. "I think his girlfriend's come to join him."

"I thought you said he was divorced?" Joe replied. "You should have insisted he came to dinner that time."

"We're not talking about that," Ellie reminded him, seeing Tom wriggling in his seat. "Why were you smashing up your laptop Tom? Do you know how much those things cost? Well do you? Where is it now?"

"Ask your boss," Joe replied for the boy. "You wasted your time looking for it, Hardy has it. He said Paul gave it to him. Why did you threaten him Tom?"

"I didn't want you to find out," Tom admitted.

"Well, what was on it then?" Ellie wanted to know as she took Fred out of his stroller. "Oh look, there's Hardy," she then grinned as Rose, Alec and Jake were emerging from the catering area. "I knew she'd be blonde."

Joe shook his head. If she was more interested in her boss's love life than her own son smashing his laptop up, she maybe wouldn't start asking himself any awkward questions. Had Hardy been trying to get to him through Tom?

Now, Ellie was back in the office, wondering where her boss was. He was taking liberties extending his lunch hour but what could she say? Of course he was going to take his time.

Jake had got back, knocking on the caravan door before entering. Rose had just told Alec why she was there early.

"Rose, why did you not think I would be pleased?" Alec asked her after he'd hugged her carefully and they had kissed.

"You are then?" Rose wanted to make sure. "I've been so nervous about springing it on ya," she admitted. "It's such a relief. I mean, I never expected anything to happen. So, what now?"

"Stay with me Rose? I will have this case over with very soon and I could do with your help. Only if you want?"

"Yeah, anything Alec," Rose agreed as they heard a tap on the door.

"Are ya gonna eat this now?" Jake grinned as he entered with a chicken salad sandwich in a carton. "Everything okay?"

"Yes Jake, everything is fine now," Alec smiled at Rose as he got up. "Stay a while, I should get back to work before my DS starts calling me."

Jake agreed and picked up Rose's cases after asking where she wanted them. He tried to ignore the two of them as Rose stood up and kissed Alec goodbye.

"Don't be late back, will ya?" Rose smiled at him, going to straighten his tie.

"No love, I promise I will not work late. DS Miller will be pleased to get home early but I expect something to develop in the case very shortly."

"Can ya talk about it?" Rose wanted to know. "I mean if ya want my help?"

"I will tell you when I get back but an interview I did this morning has significantly increased my sense of who was responsible for that boy's death."

"I hope ya right Alec," Rose told him.

Ellie was sat in front of her computer, her head in her hands as Alec walked into the office.

"Sir, I need to talk to you," she spoke up as he passed her.

She followed him and sat herself down.

"Is my Tom a suspect? I mean do you think he had anything to do with Danny's death?"

Alec closed the door then sat behind the desk.

"He knows more than he is saying Miller," Alec replied. "Your husband stopped the interview, said he wanted to get a solicitor."

"He never said that to me," Ellie told him. "Why would he say that?"

Alec thought if she didn't know the reason, his suspicions were confirmed. Joe Miller knew how to dispose of things, he was married to a detective. If he was right, he would need Rose's help very soon. Rose was a trained Torchwood agent and even if she hadn't suddenly become his girlfriend, he would have needed her help.

"You tell me Miller," Alec replied. "Tom is hiding something, do you want to see the contents of his laptop?"

Ellie shook her head.

"Tom wouldn't do anything to hurt Danny," Ellie refused to believe what had been suggested.

Alec raised his eyebrows. Now was the time to admit who his girlfriend was. He knew his DS would be in denial at who he thought was responsible. It wasn't Tom but the way Joe had reacted? He had to be right.

"Miller, have you heard of Torchwood?"

"Of course I have, they've supposed to have become better under the new regime, no-one would ever have forgiven the old one after they unleashed those menaces," Ellie replied. "What have they got to do with anything? You're not thinking of calling them in? Are you serious – Sir?"

"You know I was at Rose Tyler's wedding, with my daughter?"

"I remember you saying. She's gone quiet again, thank goodness. All that fuss picking bridesmaids, couldn't she have just got relatives?" Ellie wanted to know.

"My daughter was the head bridesmaid, we got to stay the weekend and she made friends with Rose Tyler. What I have to say does not leave this office, understand?"

Ellie nodded her agreement.

"Well? You mean to say she's your new girlfriend?" Ellie laughed. "You are joking? She's married. Seriously? There's been no gossip in the papers."

He knew she'd never have believed him.

"Keep this to yourself Miller, you cannot even tell your husband. It is being kept quiet to protect her from all the gossip. Her husband left her, the reason is not up for discussion but I went to see her the other weekend," Alec admitted.

Ellie remembered him sneaking off for the weekend, she should have known he'd been up to no good.

"So because you were at her wedding, she called you and you went?" Ellie asked him.

"Her husband did not just leave her Miller, she called me the other day, he left her for good and she received divorce papers. That is why it is being kept quiet. She wanted me to help her find him. We had talked at her wedding and I think her husband had got jealous because we look alike," Alec admitted.

"Joe said something about that but laughed it off," Ellie told him. "Why would her husband leave just like that?"

"Think about it Miller. It was shortly after Danny was found on the beach and I was back in the news again," Alec reminded her.

"Oh gosh, yes!" Ellie exclaimed, then covered her mouth. "Sorry Sir but that brought it all back up again?"

"Yes Miller, it did. He was missing, no trace of him then out of the blue, the divorce papers arrived. Rose took her stepfather's advice and signed them and he promised it would all be hushed up."

"Well, being head of a top organisation has its advantages," Ellie grinned. "That explains a few things then? So when you went to see her?"

"What do you think Miller?" Alec raised his eyebrows.

Ellie shifted in her seat, not believing what she thought he was trying to say.

"You didn't?" she then grinned even wider. "Who would have thought it? So that's why she's here? Her divorce is going through then?"

"She would not be here otherwise Miller," Alec replied, getting tired of all her questions. "Tell no-one she's in town, especially your nephew. If it's leaked, I know where to look."

He hoped his DS would heed his warning. Someone would be bound to spot Rose when she was out and about but if she kept low-key, she might get away with it and blend in with the few tourists who were still around despite the beach only just reopening.

Alec thought it was time to change the subject.

"Get anyone back in who does not have an alibi for that night, in particularly Susan Wright and Nigel Carter. I don't think either of them are telling the entire truth, they are both hiding something."

Ellie went off to arrange for the two of them to come in the following day, then called her husband to say she'd be home early that night, since Hardy seemed in a good mood.

"That'll make a change then," Joe told her. "Does that mean an early night?"

"If you're lucky," Ellie laughed.

At Alec's caravan, Jake was getting ready to leave.

"You'll be okay without the car?" Jake was making sure.

"I'll be fine Jake, honestly," Rose insisted. "Thanks for bringing me."

"I was making sure ya got here," Jake laughed. "Not that I don't trust ya."

They hugged goodbye and Rose went to unpack, hoping she'd not brought too much with her, they could always go back the weekend after this. She had to tell Alec that Tony was asking for him to visit. Alec told Ellie to go home just after five and put his jacket on to leave himself. Ellie was waiting for him outside.

"You don't really think Tom had anything to do with Danny's death, do you?"

"He knows something Miller, I'm sure of it. Talk to him when you get home," Alec replied. pressing the lift button.

Ellie got home and after tea, she knocked on Tom's bedroom door.

"Have you got more to tell me Tom?" he was asked.

"Dad said not to say anything else," Tom replied.

"This me Tom," Ellie reminded him. "Why can't you talk to me?"

"Dad said you'll tell DI Hardy," Tom replied reluctantly. "My laptop had messages on it from Danny, I didn't want to you worry about it."

Ellie told him not to worry about it and went to find her husband. What had Joe been thinking of, she wondered. As she got downstairs, Joe was putting his jacket on.

"Where are you going?" Ellie wanted to know.

"Nigel called, asked if I wanted to go for a drink with him," Joe laughed, holding his phone out. "I've not been out for ages Ell, you know that. Not with your boss keeping you working all hours anyway."

"Well what do you expect when we're in the middle of a murder investigation?" Ellie replied.

"Well you're not the only one on the case," Joe complained. "See you later?"

Ellie let him go, wondering what all that was about. She thought nothing more of it as she put the TV on but just after nine, her phone rang and it was the station.

"DS Miller, we've just had a call to say someone's seen a light on at the hut on the cliff top. You wanted to know if anything went on up there," the desk sergeant told her.

"Well I can't go, have you called Hardy?" Ellie wanted to know.

"Not yet Ma'am," the sergeant admitted. "Shall I send uniformed officers up there?"

"Yes but tell them no sirens and turn the car headlights off as well," Ellie replied. "I'll call Hardy myself and I'll have to call my nephew to come and babysit."

She called Olly first, who said he'd be right over, then she called Alec.

"What?" Alec answered her call, making Rose smile.

He glanced at her with her feet up on the coffee table and holding a cushion to her stomach. He'd had his hand under the cushion, trying to make out any signs the baby was moving, Rose's hand over his.

"You're gonna do this every night now, aren't ya?" Rose had laughed a while earlier.

"You can bet on that love," Alec had smiled at the thought. "I wish you had told me when you first found out."

"So do I now, I'm sorry Alec but I had so much to think about," Rose had admitted.

"Never mind love, you are here now and I promise I will take good care of you and don't even think about going to any appointments without me."

He had leaned over, being careful and kissed her. Rose had regretted not telling him earlier but what if Jamie had come back instead of sending divorce papers? Jamie would have known the baby wasn't his and would have known it was Alec's, that she had either been to see him or Alec had been to see her and there would have been a terrible argument.

She now knew the baby could never have been Jamie's, Alec had convinced her of that. They could have talked about it, there were medical answers to their problem but Jamie's problem was more deeply rooted than that. Why had he wanted to get married then, she had wondered. Now she was listening to Alec.

"Miller, there had better be a good reason why you are calling."

Ellie quickly explained what she'd been told.

"I'm just waiting for Olly to come and babysit Sir," Ellie told him. "Are you going up there yourself Sir?"

Alec looked at Rose, who was smiling at him.

"Alec, if ya have to go, then go," she told him.

"I am on my way and have officers waiting at the bottom of the cliff, I don't want whoever is in the hut getting away, understand?" he ordered her. "Tell the officers if they catch whoever it is, keep them there until I arrive."

"You go Alec, I'll be fine," Rose assured him.

Ellie was on her way as soon as Olly arrived. It never occurred to her that Joe being out and someone up at the hut were connected. Joe had got into the family car and driven up to the hut after he'd panicked and made an excuse up to go out. He could always get Nigel to say they were together at the pub.

When he got there, he went over the whole place again to make sure he hadn't missed anything, Hardy was surely already onto him after asking Tom all those questions earlier. He was about to leave via the back door when he heard cars approaching and ducked down, then made his way to the front. He had left the car further up the narrow lane, just in case and he wished it was in the car park now.

Was Ellie with them, he wondered as he dared to peek out of the window from behind the curtains. She would have called Olly if she'd been told someone was in the hut but he hoped she'd never put two and two together.

Chapter 30

A marked police car had made its way slowly down the narrow road and the driver turned off the headlights on approaching the clifftop hut. Luckily, there was a full moon so it made no difference.

"Sarge, are we waiting for the detectives to arrive?" the other uniformed officer asked.

"That was what Hardy said," Bob replied, putting his hat on. "Well, we didn't pass any cars or anyone on foot, whoever it was is still in there," he nodded towards the hut.

"He could have gone down the path," the officer suggested.

"We'd have heard it on the radio," Bob insisted. "The other car would have got there faster. Whoever's in there can't get far. Looks like someone followed us."

The car Ellie was in had made its way down the narrow lane but in the dark, she didn't spot the family car, which Joe had left on the corner by the entrance to a caravan park. He had hoped if someone saw it, they'd think it belonged to a guest there.

Ellie got out of the car and went over to talk to Bob.

"Anything happening?" she wanted to know.

"Nothing Ma'am," Bob told her. "Do you want to go look around?"

"We'll wait for Hardy," Ellie replied. "There was no car around the back of the hut?"

"No Ma'am, whoever it is either got dropped off or parked their car up the lane," Bob told her.

Alec was also being driven down, having called for a car. He'd been down that narrow lane before and didn't intend to drive down on his own at night, it was bad enough in the daytime. He'd seen all the caravans and wondered how they'd got there.

When he arrived at the hut, Ellie went over to him.

"No-one's come out yet," she told him.

"Good, we have him trapped then," Alec replied. "You take the front, we'll take the back," he nodded towards the other two officers.

Splitting up, Alec went with the officer who was with him, taking a torch from the back of the car. With a bit of luck, this could be over soon, then he could concentrate just on Rose. It had come as a huge surprise to be told he was going to be a dad again. How would Daisy take the news? She still got excited every time someone mentioned Rose and she was able to say she'd been at the wedding.

Would her enthusiasm fade once she was told she was going to have a baby sister? He was just trying to peer through the kitchen window when he heard a noise and assumed the intruder had been spooked. He saw a figure disappear and indicated for the officer with him to go one way while he himself went the other to the front of the hut.

He just reached the corner when he heard Ellie shouting. Joe had panicked at seeing Alec's face at the window, he'd been hiding behind the counter, hoping to make his escape when the police had gone around the front. Would Ellie be out front, if she'd called Olly to look after Fred?

There was only one thing for it, he had to fling the door open, surprise whoever was at the front, probably Hardy himself and make a run for it. Would there be anyone at the foot of the cliff though? If there was, he could disappear into the boatyard.

Ellie was just approaching the front door, trying to peer through it but the moon was reflecting in the glass. All of sudden, she felt the door handle moving and jumped back, making Bob move back as well then she let out a yell as the door flung open and she shouted after the quickly disappearing figure.

"Come back, this is the police. You can't go anywhere, we have the place surrounded," she shouted, just as Alec came around the corner.

"Well go after him Miller," Alec shouted as he prepared to chase the man as well but Ellie was now in his way.

The other two officers were down by the cars and saw the figure running for the path that led to the beach below.

"Hey look, someone's trying to get away," the one who had been with Ellie called to the other.

The other officer got on the car radio to tell those below the suspect was heading their way as Ellie, Bob and Alec followed the figure in black.

How did the man hope to get away, Alec wondered as he overtook Ellie and got to the path just as the other two officers joined them. He was determined that if it was who he thought it was trying to get away, Joe Miller was not going to escape capture.

"Sir, I warned the officers at the bottom of the cliff that someone was on their way down," Alec was told.

"Good, now get after that person," Alec shouted behind him as he was passed another torch by the officer who had been with him.

He intended having his driver climb back up the cliff and drive the car around to the beach, the man was younger than he was. If they caught the suspect, he wasn't letting the man out of his sight until he was in custody.

Joe was starting to panic as he'd taken the pocket torch out of his jacket pocket and was making his way down the path. How many were after him, he dreaded to think and he bet they'd have someone at the bottom as well. He was sure it had been Ellie who he'd surprised at the door, she would surely now think it was him. He neared the end of the path, seeing two police cars at the other entrance to the boatyard so he ran for the gate and pushed it open.

"You can't get away," Alec stopped to shout from the bottom of the path. "Miller, you're with me, the rest of you spread out."

"Sir, I caught a glimpse of whoever it was," Ellie admitted as they shone their torches around between the boats.

"Did you recognise him?" Alec wanted to know, hoping she would admit it was her husband. "Miller, you said you had to get a babysitter, had Joe gone out?"

"Yeah, he was going for a drink with Nigel," Ellie replied, stopping to look down a gap between the boats. "Sir, what are you suggesting?"

"Miller, what do you think?" Alec told her.

"Don't be daft Sir, what would he be doing up here?" Ellie couldn't believe what her boss was suggesting. "Are you serious?"

"It seems suspicious to me," Alec admitted, shining the torches everywhere as he heard Bob shouting out to whoever was hiding.

"Come on out, nice and quietly," Bob was saying as he saw a shadow.

Joe had frozen in the place he had chosen to hide in and had turned the torch off to avoid detection. Now it seemed he'd been found but he didn't move.

"We’ve got the boatyard covered," Bob carried on. "There's no way out."

Joe glanced around, seeing the wire fencing close by and wondered if he could get to it without being seen. It had to be worth a try, he couldn't let Ellie find him here, that was certain. He had known that morning when Tom had been questioned that Hardy suspected something. Had Ellie been told and she wasn't saying?

He heard nothing more so he moved from his hiding place and ran for the fence but Alec thought he'd heard a noise and turned to Ellie.

"Miller, you go that way," he pointed to a boat on the left. "I'll go the other and meet at the fence, if you see anything, shout but don't approach whoever it is, understand?"

"I know Sir," Ellie insisted. "He just caught me by surprise up there."

Alec thought he just bet she was caught by surprise, if he was right about it being her husband.

Alec started off in the other direction as Joe reached the fence. So looking behind him, he started climbing just as Alec reached the corner.

"Stop right there," Alec shouted at the figure in black.

The rest of the officers heard the noise and headed towards the fence as Joe wasn't going to take any notice and slipped over the other side, landing heavily but since it was sand, was able to get up and run up the beach.

"Get after him," Alec turned to the others as he saw the figure get up and run off.

Then he turned to his driver.

"Get back up there and bring the car around."

"Sir, it'll take some time," the officer insisted.

"Well who's got a car down here?" Alec looked around.

"We have Sir," another officer replied.

"Well don't stand there, let's get after him," Alec turned towards him. "Come on Miller."

Ellie thought why did he have to include her but turned and followed. Joe had stopped to get his breath back when he saw a signpost ahead in the moonlight. The path would take him back up the cliff and from there back along to the hut and to the car and hopefully, the officers that had been up there had chased him down onto the beach.

If everything worked out, he could drive back home before Ellie was any wiser that it had been him she'd been after.

Once in the car, Alec was sat in the front and could just make out a figure ahead, who had stopped. Joe saw the headlights and turned to the path.

"What's that signpost?" Alec asked the driver.

"It's for the path leading back up to the clifftop," Ellie replied.

Alec had no intentions of climbing back up there.

"You two go after him," he told the two uniformed officers. "Miller, you can drive us back down the beach and find a way back to the hut. If you catch him, hold him until we get to you. Miller, get on the radio and tell the others at the boatyard to head back up to the hut."

The two uniformed officers got out of the car and Ellie went to get into the driver's seat.

"Sir, whoever it was had to know there was a path back up the cliff," Ellie pointed out.

Alec ignored the remark, it was quite obvious her husband knew his way around. It would take a bit of time to get back to the hut, since there was only the main road then the narrow lane but before they got there, Joe was in the car and making his way carefully to the main road.

Ellie got a call on the radio to say when the two officers had got to the hut, there was no sign of anyone and believed whoever it was had a car stashed close by and had escaped.

"We may as well not bother going up there," Alec decided, thinking he'd left Rose too long already.

She had travelled all that way to see him and he'd had to leave her in the caravan.

"Shall I drop you at the station?" Ellie wanted to know, since she didn't know exactly where his caravan was.

"You may as well," Alec reluctantly agreed, in case Rose was looking out of the window for him to return.

Then he thought it was giving Joe Miller more time to get home so his wife didn't suspect anything. They arrived at the back of the police station so he got out before Ellie turned into the yard.

"We almost had the killer tonight Miller," Alec told her as he was getting out.

"You're so sure it was him?" Ellie disagreed.

"Who else could it have been?" he replied, wanting to know if she suspected anything.

He crossed the road and cut through at the side on the mini market to where he was staying. He tapped lightly on the door of the caravan, prompting Rose to turn off the TV and get up.

"Rose, it's me," Alec called to her when she pulled the curtain back before opening the door.

She let him in and greeted him with a hug.

"Well, did ya catch anyone?" Rose wanted to know.

"No but I'm even more sure it's who I think it is. He's spooked Rose, he will trip himself up."

"Well I hope so, I'd love to interrogate him when ya do catch him," she smiled, going to put water in the kettle.

"I may need you there anyway," Alec admitted, going to put his arms around her waist from behind. "If it's DS Miller's husband, she will be in denial."

"I'll call my stepfather in the morning and talk to him about it," Rose replied, turning around. "Let's have a hot drink then go to bed?"

"So, you took over my wardrobe?" Alec smiled, going for a kiss.

"Watcha think?" Rose laughed.

"Does that mean we are sharing?" he then asked hopefully.

"Well I didn't come here to sleep in the spare room," Rose teased him.

"Are you feeling okay? What I mean is do you feel sick or anything?" Alec was concerned.

"I'm fine Alec, a lot of it was just nerves, having to get up the courage to come and tell ya," Rose admitted.

"You need not have worried so much about it love," Alec told her as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I didn't know what ya'd think Alec." Rose admitted. "I should've known though, I mean after that night we spent together, we couldn't go back to being apart and afraid to admit anything."

"No, we could not," Alec agreed. "You go sit down, I will make the drinks," he offered.

"That night was something though," Rose teased him again. "I just wanted to wait until ya solved this case Alec, I didn't want to get in the way."

"You would not have been in the way Rose," Alec assured her.

He made the drinks then set them on the coffee table and sat beside her.

"Come here Rose," he held his arms out to her. "Did you really not know why I answered your call when you wanted my help?"

"I knew ya'd come," Rose replied as he put his arms around her. "I think I knew Jamie had gone for good."

"He did not deserve you," Alec then whispered to her.

When Ellie got home, Joe had been back around ten minutes and Olly had gone home but not before Olly had said how his aunt had called him over because she'd had to go off somewhere.

"She did what?" Joe pretended he didn't know Ellie had gone out.

"She told me to get here in a hurry," Olly had told him. "She said it was an emergency. She just said you'd gone out."

"It's always an emergency," Joe complained, trying to avoid any questions as to where he'd been.

So Olly had gone off and Joe tried to compose himself for when Ellie returned. Ellie got dropped off, seeing the family car was now parked in front of the house.

"Now he's back," Ellie told herself as she went to the front door.

Joe had put the TV on and was pretending to watch the news.

"How long have you been back?" Ellie wanted to know.

"A while. Where did you get to?" Joe replied.

"I got a call that someone was up at the hut where Danny was killed," she told him.

"Why did you have to go?" Joe asked, turning the sound down on the TV.

"It's my job," Ellie told him. "I had no choice but to ask Olly to come over."

"Hardy asks too much of you Ell," Joe reminded her. "Did you catch anyone then?"

He had discarded the black hoodie he'd been wearing while he'd been out and hoped Ellie wouldn't notice it on the banister.

"You know I can't talk about it," Ellie replied as she took her coat off.

"Who am I going to tell?" Joe grinned.

The next morning, Alec woke up to Rose snuggling up to him, her arm across his waist,

"Rose, I have to get up love," Alec tried to move her arm.

"Mmm, what?" Rose stirred as she tried to open her eyes. "Oh, yeah, sorry."

"No need to apologise love," Alec smiled as she moved slightly. "It was very nice waking up with you."

Rose managed a grin as she pulled some hair from her mouth.

"I will go make some tea," he suggested, kissing her cheek. "You seem to have slept well."

"Yeah, you were very comfy and I had a furry pillow," she teased him, running her finger over his chest.

"I am glad I made a good pillow," he told her as he pulled the duvet back. "You stay there while I put the heating on love, it gets chilly in the mornings, even though it's summer. I shall make some enquiries about renting a house later on, we need a proper place to live now."

He moved the duvet back over her and went to get a clean t-shirt from the drawer. Rose was observing from over the top of the cover.

"Aren't ya changing ya shorts?" she teased him.

"Now Rose, have some patience eh?" he teased her back. "Tea and toast first."

At the Miller house, Joe was seeing to their youngest son. He had thought it over in bed when Ellie had just turned over because she said she was tired. How long could he keep this up? She was definitely onto him, she had to be but he couldn't just ask her. He'd tried before by joking about her suspecting everyone and they'd laughed it off but if he did ask her again, he may not get the same reaction from her.

"Do you think you'll find out who you were after last night then?" he dared ask her.

"Only if they hand themselves in," Ellie replied, trying to find the car keys.

"Why don't you get a car to pick you up?" Joe complained.

"Do you need it today?" Ellie stopped and looked at him.

"Well I may do," Joe huffed. "What do you think Fred?" he turned to the young boy in his chair.

Ellie shook her head and spotted the keys on the table. What was he asking for the car for when he'd never bothered before, she wondered, ruffling Fred's hair.

When she got to the station, she went to Alec's office, noticing something different about him.

"Sir, you seem in a good mood today," she grinned at him.

"Sit down Miller," Alec suggested if she was going to ask questions. "My girlfriend did join me yesterday but keep that to yourself. Not a word to your nephew, understand?"

"Why would I say anything to him?" Ellie wanted to know. "She's not famous is she? Oh, I was right," she grinned at his change in expression. "Why have you been denying it? I'm glad you have someone – Sir."

"I was not sure where things were going Miller," Alec had to admit. "She arrived early because she had something to tell me."

"That she's going to be staying with you?" Ellie guessed. Alec raised his eyebrows. "Oh, something else? She's not pregnant is she?" Ellie half joked.

"Yes and before you ask, her husband had already left her and she had asked me to help find him," he had to further admit. "He is not coming back, they are getting divorced so I asked her to come and stay with me. She only told me last night she is pregnant."

"Wow, you'd better hope Olly doesn't get hold of it," Ellie replied. "Well, I suppose congratulations are in order Sir?"

"We can discuss that later Miller. That was the killer up at the hut last night, what do you bet it will have spooked him we were so close to catching him that he will soon give himself up?" Alec asked her.

"You seem sure of that Sir," Ellie replied.

"Oh I am Miller, I am. All we need now is for the phone to be switched on. Go find out if that call last night was from it."

"I thought the call came from someone else up there?" Ellie asked him.

"Who else would have been up there Miller?" Alec wanted to know, leaning back in his chair.

Ellie went off to check and Alec called the personnel office.

"This is DI Hardy. The caravan I am renting is no longer suitable, can you find me a two bedroom rental house or cottage, preferably around the harbour?" he asked the woman who answered, who thought it was just her luck she had to deal with him again.

Before too long, Ellie was back to interviewing Nigel Carter again as Alec ordered that anyone who had no alibi for last night was brought in and she had asked him if he was with Joe, who'd not had chance to establish who he'd been with as a cover.

"I wasn't with anyone," Nigel was trying to tell her. "I want my solicitor."

While they were waiting, Alec had gone down to the beach to meet Rose, to tell her he was onto finding somewhere to live.

"Still need my help Alec?" Rose asked him as she leaned on his shoulder.

"Soon love, I'm sure of it. I asked DS Miller to join us when she had chance. You two should meet," he replied.

Ellie had read his mysterious message and was now walking along the beach, seeing two people up ahead.

"Miller, this is Rose Tyler, my girlfriend," Alec introduced Rose.

"Hi, glad to meet ya," Rose held her hand out to Ellie. "Ya do have a first name?" she smiled, looking at Alec.

"I don't do first names at work," Alec insisted.

"Hi, it's Ellie," Ellie replied, ignoring Alec. "Nice to meet you Rose. He told me you were expecting, congratulations. He's finally stopped pretending he's not got a girlfriend," she grinned.

"Oh, well, there's a reason for that," Rose replied. "I wasn't sure how things were going, well until my soon to be ex husband sent me divorce papers out of the blue. It took me a while to come to terms with it."

They were interrupted by Ellie's phone ringing. Before she had left, she had told Frank in the office to call her if the missing phone was switched on. She handed her phone to Alec when told it had been.

"This is Hardy, send the co-ordinates to my phone," Alec told Frank. "Miller, get back to your interview."

Rose looked at him, not sure why he hadn't used her first name. Ellie took her phone back, saying goodbye to Rose then Alec called her back.

"Good work on this Miller," he told her.

Ellie shaded her eyes as she looked at him, then she continued.

"Her husband has the missing phone and he turned it on," Alec admitted to Rose. "You go back to the caravan, I will call you later. Did you talk to your stepfather?"

"Yeah and I have his authority to act as a Torchwood agent again. I was so out of it when I was with Jamie, he wanted to focus on other things."

"No need to explain love," Alec told her. "I will walk back with you, I just have a call to make."

He ordered a car to meet him in front of the police station and arrived at the Miller house, not really needing to know where the signal from the missing phone was leading him. Joe was just standing in the shed, knowing that turning the phone on would lead Hardy right to him. As Alec made his way through the house, seeing Tom watching TV, he went to the back door, leaving an officer outside.

"I'm sick of hiding," Joe admitted as Alec came face to face with him.

"Joe Miller, I am arresting you on the suspicion that you killed Danny Latimer, read him his rights," he turned to the officer who had followed him.

"Dad, what's going on?" Tom wanted to know as Joe was led outside in handcuffs.

"Tom, sit down," Alec suggested. "Someone will be here shortly to take you and your brother to meet your mother and look after you for now. Is there anything you want to take with you?"

Tom shook his head, looking confused but Alec didn't want to say anything, that was up to the boy's mother. Alec then called Rose to meet him at the police station, calling the desk sergeant to say she should be given a visitor's pass.

"What's she doing here?" Joe wanted to know when Rose was shown into the interview room.

"Miss Tyler is here in an official capacity as an agent of an organisation working with the police," Alec told him.

Joe finally gave in and confessed, prompting Alec to have him detained while he went to see Ellie, Rose going with him. Ellie refused at first to believe what she was being told but broke down, Rose comforting her.

"Is this why you introduced me to your girlfriend?" Ellie asked Alec as Rose helped her up when Ellie crouched on the floor while being sick.

"I'm so sorry Ellie," Rose told her. "Alec asked for me to be here, he said you might need my help. I can go with you to see your two boys."

"You would?" Ellie tried to dry her tears.

"Take her to my office Rose," Alec suggested. "I will make some arrangements. The boys will join you at the motel just by the roundabout, you can go collect their things."

When Alec joined Ellie and Rose in his office, Rose was telling Ellie how she had met Alec.

"It was just pure luck that his daughter became my head bridesmaid," Rose was saying. "The only thing was, Jamie, my ex, hated the fact Alec looked like him and could never get over it."

"Is that why he left you?" Ellie wanted to know, thinking Rose was trying to take her mind off the fact Joe had killed Danny.

"I think so Ellie. I mean he was fine for a while but Alec got himself in the news again, didn't he?" Rose smiled as Alec walked in.

"Talking about me?" Alec asked her. "Rose, are you going with her?"

Rose nodded and got up with Ellie, everyone in the office watching them. Alec went off to formally charge Joe Miller with Danny's death and hoped his DS would come to terms with it. He got back to the caravan, having some news for Rose.

"There is a holiday cottage, not far away that is coming available, we can go look tomorrow, if you want?" he asked Rose.

"Yeah, is it still by the harbour?" Rose was curious.

"The back garden leads to the river," Alec smiled. "I could ask for something else? It is only a few minutes walk from the harbour itself."

"No, it sounds perfect Alec," Rose got up to hug him.

"Well, we have plans to make now," he replied as he went for a kiss.

The following weekend, they drove back up to see Rose's family and Tony almost knocked Alec over when they arrived.

"Alec, will you be my big brother now?" Tony was dying to ask him after Pete had said it was okay.

"Well, I would be proud for you to be my younger brother Tony," Alec assured him as he knelt down to face the boy. "It may take a while though, for it to be possible but meanwhile, I don't think there is any harm in us saying we are, do you Rose?" he turned to her.

Both Tony and Rose went to hug him and Alec knew he had a new family now, he had all that he wanted, with a baby on the way and he had called Daisy to tell her he and Rose were together. Whilst Daisy was trying to take it all in, she had cried for a while but said she was happy for them and agreed to visit them during the next school holiday.

Pete had instructed that the divorce was rushed through using his authority that he had Rose's word that her marriage to Jamie had never been consummated and it was all to be hushed up, Rose being free a few months later.

Alec took her out to celebrate and they had walked to the end of the pier that was all lit up. He took a small box out of his pocket and opened it, revealing a diamond engagement ring.

"Rose, I was waiting to give you this," he told her as the ring sparkled in the lights. "I know you are only just free but I would be very happy if you would wear it, while you come to terms with things."

Rose held her hand out and he placed the ring on her finger.

"It's lovely Alec and I'd love to wear it," she replied. "I think I was taken in by Jamie, after losing my friend suddenly and I never even considered that was what attracted me to him," she admitted.

"Forget it love, that's in the past, you have me now and the baby. You wanted a family, did you not?"

"Yeah, I did and now I've got one. I didn't mean to trick ya that night ya know?" she asked nervously.

"I know that Rose but after the way you told me about Jamie, well I had two choices, one being to just walk away and let you resolve your problems yourself or to show you how I had felt about you since we first met. I made the right choice, Rose Tyler."

With that, ignoring the fact it was getting colder, he got down on one knee.

"Rose, will you marry me, when you feel the time is right?"

With tears in her eyes as he got up after pushing the ring further on her finger, she managed to nod and say yes.

They married the first week in February at Broadchurch registry office, Daisy being their only bridesmaid and their only choice with no contest this time around. Pete gave the bride away, Jake was Alec's best man and Tony was put in charge of passing the rings to Alec and was beaming from ear to ear that he had a big brother again.

After the reception, Pete went to talk to Alec while Rose was her mother.

"Alec, I know you're not like Jamie and Jackie and I know that you're good for Rose after what happened."

"Thank you Pete and I will take good care of her," Alec assured him. "You have no need to worry that I will get jealous over anyone. I respect that Rose does not want to talk much about the friend she lost but maybe some day, she will and when she does, she will finally be able to let her past go."

"Good man," Pete told him as he patted Alec on the shoulder. "You should get off now, Rose is looking over," he grinned.

Alec smiled back at his new wife. She looked radiant, somehow the dress fitter had hidden her baby bump but he would have preferred it if on the wedding photos it had been showing, so they could look back on the day and recall how happy they were that Rose had agreed to reveal they were to have a baby daughter.

The End!