Hello again! So I'm back at it. I quite enjoyed writing my first fanfiction so I'll continue writing about Broadchurch mainly as this is definitely the best show I've ever watched. Alec Hardy has a special place for me and most of my fanfics are talking about him I admit. How he's coping with his life, his health, his past etc. I hope you will like that one. I always wondered what more could have been exchanged between the two detectives as they were sharing a room. It starts as they are driving to Sandbrook and will most likely end when they're back in Broadchurch.

I know I don't really writing skills, as I said I only write fanfics so that I can share what crosses my mind so I apologize again in advance for the faults but I'm trying my best.

This is the first chapter (day 1) as I didn't finish the 2nd one already I thought I'd already publish the first so that I can see what you think. The 2nd chapter is coming the next 48hours so don't miss it, otherwise it wouldn't't make sense.

As soon as he's finished narrating the worst the day of his life to Ellie he let his head resting against the window dangling with the car's motion. Miller was babbling about the new exploits of wee Fred while Hardy was half asleep, half listening. After multiple attemps at keeping his eyes open despite the heaviness of his eyelids and the constent drowsiness certainly due to the not-interesting-at-all stories of Miller, he finally gave in and fell into a restful nap.

"What?" she said dumbfoundedly. Did he just fell asleep on her? She was talking to him for christ's sake! Then a grin appeared on her face as she watched him peacefully sleeping. He looked like he didn't sleep for days. He seems younger, as if a weight has been removed from him. She watched his chest rise and fall with his more and more labored breaths thinking about how Sandbrook must have affected him, was it what made him ill maybe?
She was constantly concerned now about his health, he never talked about it but she saw the changes herself. Since his heart attack all his gestures were way much slower, his breathings more harsh, he looked exhausted and even sometimes she could catch when he was in pain. But he'd never talked about it. She was worried something like what happened on Briar Cliffs when they were chasing the suspect would happen again. She knew it could but what else was she able to do anyway but only pray it won't happen?
Miller was driving silently towards Sandbrook, the heavy rain was about to let enter some rays of light warming Alec's sleeping body.

As they were entering the town of Sandbrook, an abrupt turn finally jerked him out of his peaceful sleep and he woke up startled, slighlty panting.
"Sorry this moron doesn't know how to drive apparently" Miller said while pointing out a car
" 'S alright" Hardy answered sluggishly with a hoarse voice and then added after a short glance through the window "are we arrived already?"
"Yeah, slept the whole trip, talk about company?" she said a smirk on her face
"Sorry" he said with a ping of guilt in his tone
"It's fine, I guess I prefer sleeping Hardy than annoying Hardy and you look like you could have used some rest anyway"
He sighed as they were parking in front of the hotel.

"Seriously don't be stupid, especially not in your condition" Miller said with a tone of annoyance, this was definitely going
to be a long day.
"It's not a condition" Hardy retorted, head lowing down. Though he was very well aware that indeed, it's a condition and that
this wasn't a good idea sleeping in the car. He just couldn't even bare the idea of sleeping in the same bed as Miller, above
all when they're already said to have a liaison.
"It totally is a condition!"
"Look, it's been a long drive. We'll just take half the bed each. I'll sleep under the covers, you sleep on top." she added
"Just don't snore."
Hardy thought this was definitely going to be a long day.

Alec was slowly unpacking his bag while Ellie was getting prepared in the bathroom.
The little trip didn't even started that Alec was already tired of it, well what's new anyway? He carried with him all
his medications, when taking a look at his small bag he realized it was a bit disturbing how much medicines there were in as he
was staying only for a night. He took all the precautions as he couldn't afford to have an episode if Miller was standing
right next to him and the stress to come back in the town of his past was putting him over the edge. It was where everything happened, he had to meet the family of Pippa, his ex-wife and above all to meet his daughter. That was certainly what was stressing him the most as he rarely spoke to her the last few months, they weren't really on what we could call good terms and he felt like he was missing all her childhood, this precious moment when your child becomes an adult.
Even the thought of seeing her again all grown up in front of him made his head spinning and he had to sit down for a
minute. He resulted in opening the medicine package to pop out two pills that he'd swallowed without water as Miller was still
in the bathroom and he threw the blister pack on the bed. He closed his eyes to ease his lingering light-headedness and waited
until the episode subsided.

He was about to yell at Miller as she took very long to come out of the bathroom when he heard a soft whimper and then a deep wailing coming from where she was. He lifted his head not really knowing what to do. He felt bad for her as this wasn't the first time
he witnessed her crying. This wasn't really surprising considering what she was going through. Hardy saw her life falling
apart, he can perfectly recall the moment he told her those three words "It was Joe".
He got up to say something even if he didn't know what, he couldn't do as everything was fine, at least to
check on her, ask her if she wanted to talk about it, he hated the thought but it felt the right thing to do.
He was relieved when she opened the door herself and finally came out of the bathroom with red puffy eyes but she seemed to
have put herself together and said "So, are we going or not?"
"Yes, sure" he stared at her with his soft eyes and then started walking off the room.

Hardy and Miller were slowly heading to a restaurant. They were looking over different menus when a strong hand suddenly hit Hardy's left shoulder which frankly startled him so much that he almost fell over and Miller steadied him.
"oi! Steady there!" a very familiar male voice told him
Hardy turned around to face his unexpected friend and old boss Ed Baxter.
"Ed! Hi" he said half pleased half embarassed when Miller adressed him a questioning gaze.
"Alec! Christ, I didn't expect you there, I saw a skinny bloke with a scottish accent in the crowd I couldn't believe my eyes, what are you doing here?" Ed asked all cheerful
"Well, I have some things to do, and this is Miller she's here to..." he hesitated for a second and fidgeted as he didn't even know himself. Was she there just because he didn't want to do this alone? So that she may see things he didn't and finally solve the case? to watch out for him or to distract her from the trial? He didn't even had the time to finish his sentence as Ed interrupted him:
"I see, Miller then" he said a grin on his face while offering his hand and added:
"Ed Baxter" they exchanged a handshake
"Ellie Miller, I used to work with him"
"So did I!" he said
"Oh! Ok" she said interested now
"He's quite a hard work, how do you deal with him? It took me years"
"Ah! I think I don't but I'm doing my best" she laughed
"You know I can hear that do you?" Hardy interrupted them
"You were supposed to, Alec. Anyway are you settled down finally?"
"Aye" he nodded
"Woaw! convincing.. And did you get that ticker of yours fixed?" he asked pointing his chest with his finger with a tone of concern
"Not yet, 'M fine Ed thanks" he said a bit harshly
"I see, still the same then, you're lucky I'll let you go, someone's waiting for me but I'll call you ok?"
"Yes, sure" Alec said with a comforting smile "Bye"
"Bye Alec, take care of yourself please" he gave Alec a squeeze and then he nodded to Ellie "Have a great evening Miller, maybe we'll meet again?"
"I hope so, goodbye" Miller replied and then turned to Hardy:
"You didn't told me you had friends, didn't even imagine as grouchy as you are you would have some! He seems nice" she said almost laughing
"Thanks a lot, and yes he is" he said while entering the restaurant. Once they're all settled Ellie asked:
"So, why don't you ask him? For the case?"
"He won't let me do this, I know him"
"Why?"
"Can we not talk about this now please?" he was irritated
She didn't reply but instead stared at him with wide eyes
The diner went and passed mainly paced by Miller's constant babbling and they went back to the hotel.

He was thinking, sat on the bed when Miller interrupted him in his thoughts "you're on the cover"
"Sorry" he realized, retired his glasses and went to sleep. Miller was irritating him so he chose not to answer until he said "go to sleep Miller"

He was laying still on his back on the edge of sleep, the water started to crush on him and he felt dragged down the river when he started coughing slightly at the beginning and then loudly when he felt like he couldn't breathe. He was fully awake now and sat up straight to catch his breath. He stood up, went searching for one of his pills and disappeared in the bathroom.
Miller wasn't already sleeping when she heard him coughing, she saw him taking what she presumed was his medication and heading to the bathroom she asked him if he was alright but he didn't seem to have heard that.
A few seconds later he was out of the bathroom and settled in an armchair his breathing still a bit labored.
She insisted
"Hardy?"
"Aye"
"Y'alright?"
"M' fine" he said letting his head falling
"Don't you go to sleep?"
"I do"
"But you're not going to sleep on that chair are you?"
"No, just waiting for the medicine to kick in. Go to sleep Miller"
She looked dumbfounded and turned her back
"Oh. Goodnight sir"

Sleep was hard to get for Miller as everytime she closed her eyes she'd only recall the way Hardy looked at her deep in the eyes "It was Joe" with this haunting thought she fell asleep a tear running down her cheek.

Hardy watched her asleep, she was calm and rested it helped him calm down and with that he came back to bed to a second attempt at getting some sleep.

TO BE CONTINUED (chap2 is on its way)

All my fanfics are a lot inspired by the ones of the brilliant mykelara for those who read her stories you might recognise some of her characters as Ed Baxter, his old boss and friend. As I'm trying to set up my own Broadchurch AU I take my inspiration from others brilliant writers. If you haven't read A Million Holes Poked In The Soul of mykelara then you maybe should because she's really talented and that's exactly how I see Hardy's past and soul. Moreover it might be helpful to follow with my own fanfics as it gets its inspiration and characters from there.

I'd like to put some sassy Miller/Hardy and some funny remarks but I already don't have much humour in french it's even harder in English. Do you think it needs more fun?

Oh, also, I don't think I'll ever do Millardy fanfics (is that how we calle them? lol) I mean I won't write about how Alec and Ellie could start falling in love or something I'd think it would be really out of topic. I write fanfictions because it feels to me like some deleted scenes we never knew about like it could have happened so I try to make it the most realistic (even if I know sometimes it's not but still). Anyway I personnally think Ellie and Alec would never fall in love they're too diferrent and too cheeky with each other (that's why we love them though haha). Maybe once I'll change my mind, moreover if you want me to I could but so far, I have plenty other fanfics ideas.

I'd really be interested in what you think of my fan fictions please. Could you leave reviews so that I know what I worth and if I should go on. Tell me what you like, don't like. Thank you very much for reading this, I owe you a lot !