"I won't break Rose, come and lie on me," he insisted, pulling on her arm.
"You've only got your shorts on."
"I got too warm last night."
"Aren't you warm with your t-shirt on?"
"I may be, are you not warm in that nightdress?"
Trying not to get Alec too worked up, Rose let him relieve her of her underwear as she got him out of his shorts, both clinging to each other as waves of pleasure washed over them. They may not have had sex but had come close enough for Alec to fall asleep peacefully, now in his shorts and t-shirt in case something happened to him and they had agreed for the few remaining nights before his hospital visit, that was what they would do.
Even the next morning he didn't complain she was lying across him.
"Rose, wake up."
"What is it? Are you feeling ill?"
"No, I'm fine, in fact I feel better than I have for a while now, certainly before my first attack since being in this town. Maybe all I needed was you to look after me eh?"
"Yeah, how did ya manage without me?" she asked, lifting his t-shirt and kissing his chest.
"Very badly by all accounts. I can go into the office Rose, I'll be fine."
"If I let you go, don't have me bringing you tea all morning then."
"You do know the staff will want a repeat of Friday when we leave?"
"Well, we might have given them something to talk about."
Alec got out of bed, taking his t-shirt off, Rose smiling.
"I know what you're thinking Rose, get your mind out of the gutter."
"Well the last time you said I wouldn't get to see more of you, guess that went sour on you?"
They went to the window once they were dressed and made a show of kissing but the next door neighbour was just going out and saw them. Rose just waved and put her arm back around Alec.
"There was no need for that."
"You won't say that when she tries to get you on your own."
"Rose, she is not a desperate housewife from a Jackie Collins novel."
"How would you know?" she smiled, backing away from the window. "Did your ex used to read them?"
"No, she turned out to be one of them, I have experience."
The four hours went fast, Alec assigning two DC's to go sort out an argument between two neighbours, not where they were staying, thankfully and Rose duly gave Alec a kiss in his office before leaving but the chief almost caught them.
"Ah, I'm glad I caught you both. That footage from yesterday was most strange. What are they up to?"
"Do you want to hand it over to counter-terrorism?" Alec asked.
"They want you to stay there for now and gather more evidence, the people there have already seen the two of you. I trust you have been acting the part?"
"You could say that," Alec replied, glancing at Rose and hoping she wasn't going to say anything.
"Good, does that include within the office?" Elaine smiled.
"Just practising," Rose smiled back.
"Well I'll thank you not to practice in front of the whole office. If you are going to play at being a couple, keep it to outside the station."
"What if it is genuine?" Alec wanted to know.
"Really Alec, can't I trust you? If the two of you become involved, I will have to ask you to keep it to a minimum and don't hide the fact. Is it genuine?"
"Well, we have to discuss the finer points first. About yesterday, Rose was trying to tell you I go to see the consultant on Friday morning."
"Well I'm glad you came to your senses Alec, I hope it all goes well. You do know I will get a report on it?"
"Yes, I am aware of that but I want to make a request, that if they advise me against surgery, I still want to remain active in some capacity, even if I do have to go and teach new recruits."
"I'll have to see how bad they say you are, I can't take responsibility if you ignore medical advice."
"Then leave Rose with me, let her work the hours I do."
"I'm sure if need be it can be arranged. Let's see what happens first shall we?"
For the next two days, they went to work as normal and on Thursday afternoon, Rose called in at the boarding house, leaving Alec in the office until she got back.
"Oh hello Miss Tyler," the owner's wife greeted her. "I thought you were off somewhere for a week?"
"Oh I'm just on an assignment, I can't talk about it. I just wondered if you had any double rooms to rent?"
"Oh, your boyfriend joining you then? Well I have one spare, someone just cancelled, you can have that if you want?"
"Great, can I move my things out of my old room on Saturday?"
"Sure, of course you can. Will the police be paying for it? It does cost more."
"Yeah, I'll sort if out with them tomorrow. Thanks Mrs Green."
"Any time Rose, the room is yours for as long as you need."
She went back to the station to tell him she had got it sorted.
"Good, when we get back from the hospital tomorrow, we should go sort it out with personnel, they can apply what they have been paying for the hotel but we can't stay there, we still have to find another place."
"Yeah, at least you're acting like you want to find a place."
"I told you last night, I am going to fight this, I am not going to give in to the inevitable."
"Yeah, glad to hear it tough guy, seems you're not opposed to accepting help after all."
They left early the next morning, Alec complaining they had to wait twenty minutes because they were too early.
"Well we didn't want to be late, did we?" Rose asked, holding his hand and resting her head on his shoulder.
A nurse came out and picked up a folder, reading the label.
"Alec Hardy?"
Alec let go of Rose's hand and got up slowly, knowing if he got up fast they would be taking him in on a trolley. They were led to another waiting area, Alec complaining again.
Rose shook her head. "Well at least we've moved," she smiled.
"Not far enough."
Another nurse came out and called his name, asking Rose to stay as she got up.
"It's just a pre-op, he'll be out in a few minutes."
"What? I thought I was seeing the consultant? Is there more than one Alec Hardy?" he asked.
No. You are Detective Inspector Alec Hardy? Formally of Sandbrook?"
She went on to give him a hospital gown, Rose trying to resist giggling. He took two gowns offered and followed her to a changing room.
"Your girlfriend can watch your things for you."
"Why am I doing this?"
"The consultant has reviewed your case, she wants you to be ready if she decides you can have the pacemaker fitted."
"How soon would that be?"
"Were you not told anything?"
"No, I never received a letter, I only called on Monday."
"Oh, they may not have sent a letter out in that case. If all goes well, the consultant will have already pencilled you in for today or Monday."
"That soon?"
"Alec, this is what we wanted," Rose reminded him.
"Come along and get changed Mr Hardy, best not keep her waiting, she'll be finished with her last patient soon."
The nurse went off and Rose took Alec's jacket.
"Are you going to make me kiss you in here before I get that back?" he asked.
"Nah, you can kiss me later."
After saying he was bitterly disappointed, he went off, coming back twenty minutes later.
"Can I get dressed now?" he asked the same nurse.
"No, the consultant will want to examine you."
"Can I go with him this time?" Rose asked.
"Sure, I'll just tell her you're ready."
"This is it Alec."
"I know and I want to tell you something."
"I know Alec, you'll have lots of time to tell me you love me."
As they went in together, Alec just hoped she was right.
After they got out and Alec had found a quiet corner to thank Rose for giving him his jacket back, they had a few hours to pass before he had to go back.
"I'm not ready for this Rose," he told her as they sat in the hospital grounds. "Half past two and my life might be over. I should call Daisy."
"You didn't tell her you were coming here today?"
"I did not know I was having the surgery until I got here, did I?"
He got his phone out, hoping to catch his daughter during the lunch break, it was already after one and they had passed a few hours walking around the town.
"Hi Dad, what's wrong? Why are you calling me at school, is there something wrong?"
"Daisy, darlin, I have something to tell you. In just over an hour, I go have my pacemaker fitted."
"So soon? Wow, have you told mum?"
"No, I have to call her now and you need to know, I may not get through it."
"But you have to Dad, you said everything was going to be ok."
"I know and I'm sure it will be but I've made provisions for you and my solicitor will take care of everything but there is something else. I met someone, her name is Rose and we work together. She has your contact details, in case the worse happens."
There was silence on the other end.
"Daisy, are you still there?"
"Yeah," she answered tearfully and Rose could tell it hadn't gone down well.
"Dad, please get through it and I'm sorry for not talking to you."
"I know, there are a lot of things we could have done differently. Give me time to call your mum then you call her and go home, I don't want Rose calling you at school, I'll get your mum to tell them."
He hung up, kissed Rose then called his ex, which went better than he expected.
"Do you want me to come down? I can get there in a few hours."
"No, go get Daisy from school, she was upset."
"Well I should think she was and then you're telling her in the same conversation that you have a new girlfriend, what do you expect?"
"Not now Tess, do you want what may be our last conversation to end in an argument?"
"No, that's not what I want. If Rose calls Daisy, I'll talk to her, for your sake."
"Yes, well be civil to her if you have to meet her, she has all the details of my solicitor. She's a good DC, she knows what to do."
Rose decided the CS should know but unknown to either of them as they walked in, hand in hand to the surgical unit, Elaine was calling Ellie Miller, who happened to be in Broadchurch.
"What do you expect me to do about it?" Ellie asked her ex boss after being told Alec was just thirty minutes or so away from going under the surgeon's scalpel.
"Go down Ellie, his new girlfriend is down there on her own."
"So?"
"She's his new DC, her name is Rose Tyler."
"You're joking? I met her last week, we talked for a while and I wished her good luck keeping Hardy in line. How did that happen so fast?"
"They were on an undercover assignment, seems they took the pretence of being a couple a bit too far but at least they admitted it."
Ellie let out a laugh, typical.
She hung up and turned to her sister.
"Can you watch Fred for a couple of hours?"
"Sure, going somewhere?"
"To see an old friend."
An hour later, Rose was pacing the corridor and saw the door to the waiting area open, Ellie walking in. The two of them sat arm in arm in silence until the double door of the operating room opened and a man in a green gown and mask came out.
"Which one of you is Rose Tyler?"
Rose gripped Ellie's hand tightly and quietly answered, "That's me, is he ok?"
Twenty minutes later, Rose was half on a chair and half on the hospital bed Alec was laid on, hooked up to the machines. She was resting her head on his side when she felt him moving.
"Hi, see, I told you that you were too stubborn to die."
"Hello to you too Rose, I made it."
"Yeah, you should have had a bet, you'd have won."
They talked quietly, Alec being allowed to have tea and toast before getting dressed. The surgeon wanted to keep him but Rose assured them she would look after him. When they got back they laid on the sofa for a while but the doorbell went just after eight. Alec didn't want her to answer it but she did. It was the next door neighbour, Rose thinking she was maybe hoping Alec was alone.
"Oh hi Rose, sorry to bother you but we're having a barbecue on Sunday, we wondered if you and Alec would like to come."
"Who is it honey?" Alec asked, making his way to the door.
"Geez, what happened to you?"
"Nothing, I'm fine now, work has been getting to me."
"Oh. Anyway, I was just inviting you and Rose to our barbecue."
"We are leaving tomorrow, thanks all the same."
The poor woman looked positively pale as she turned to leave.
"See, I told you she fancied you," Rose reminded him as they got into bed later.
"You always have to be right Tyler?"
"Admit it, I was right this time and I was right over number 22."
"Well we still don't know the reason people are coming and going."
"I tell you Alec, they're just family, it's what they do. They have a different culture to us. Anyway, the chief was satisfied."
"Well she will have to be, I am out of here tomorrow. Have you packed everything?"
"Stop worrying, I have it under control. You never told me Daisy's reaction when you called her while I was making you some tea."
"She was pleased and she wants to meet you."
"Good, she'd best get used to me, you're stuck with me, ha!"
The next morning was all go. Rose insisted on taking all the luggage out herself and after waving at the neighbour when the agent had collected the keys from them, she drove up to Alec's hotel.
"Got a new friend inspector?" Becca asked him, giving Rose the eye.
"My DC, Rose Tyler." Rose nudged him. "Oh and she's my new girlfriend."
"Wow, you move out for a week and get yourself a girlfriend. Well done, I didn't think you had it in you."
They emptied Alec's room and drove down to the boarding house, Rose settling him in then clearing her old room. They had got the owner to agree to them sorting out payment on Monday when Rose explained Alec hadn't been at work the previous day. She'd not told him Ellie had been waiting with her in the hospital since Ellie had insisted she didn't want him to think she had gone soft.
The next day, Rose suggested they took a walk across the harbour and they sat for a while talking.
"Alec, I was thinking. We have to find somewhere to live, right?"
"They won't let us stay in the boarding house too long and it is not practical staying in one room all the time."
"I know so what about a caravan?"
"Rose, they will be closing soon, you saw the notice."
"Yeah but they have residential, some of the caravans are private, maybe we can rent one for the winter, it would be nice and cosy plus we can walk to work and we'll have plenty of room to move about."
"Well we can call in and ask, if you insist? They might be glad to make a bit of money instead of having empty caravans."
Rose did a little sway in front of him, she had been doing it all week to get her own way and he had rolled his eyes and given in.
"They may have a reason for closing, like maintenance and refurbishment," he told her, knowing she was determined to win,
"Swallowed a good dictionary Alec?" she teased, touching his cheek then kissing it.
"Very amusing 'honey'."
After some careful negotiations with the manager, they agreed to take a private caravan until the following March, Alec said he was in no rush to move and having no stairs to climb would aid his recovery and the manager said they could sort the finances out on Monday for them to move in the following Saturday.
Monday morning, Alec had to see the CMO and was told to have two weeks off but after two days in the boarding house, he walked into his office, the chief soon getting to know about it and not from Rose either. She had been listening to the whispering all morning and had got up and given them all a lecture about have more respect for their DI.
"Alec, you were told to stay off, what is it with you?" Elaine asked, walking past Rose and into his office to see him with a folder in his hand.
Rose got up and tapped on the door before entering.
"Have you tried sitting in a small bedroom with nothing to do?" he asked her, tossing the folder on his desk.
"You are supposed to be resting. Look, if you promise not to do anything at all except sit at your desk and read a few reports, you can stay for three hours tops. Rose, I'm making him your responsibility. I got your request to pool your housing allowances, one week at the boarding house and then a private caravan until further notice or next March, whichever comes first."
"Thank you, we will try not to move again too soon."
"Well I did have a suggestion, if you are willing to listen?"
"What might that be?" Alec asked, leaning back in his chair. "Can Rose work the same hours as me?"
"I'm afraid not but I can reduce them slightly until you come back properly. Anyway, I was going to ask how you felt about staying in that house you were just in?"
"Are you joking?" Alec asked.
"They still want that house watching and you two would be perfect for the job."
Rose and Alec looked at each other then Rose got up and put her hands on Alec's shoulders.
"I am not moving back there," Alec insisted.
"Didn't you like living in a new house?" Elaine asked, a bit surprised since they had got cosy with each other in a short space of time, in the aforementioned house of all places.
Rose had to burst out laughing. "Well the next door neighbour is a lone housewife and Alec doesn't feel comfortable about it, do you?"
"No, certainly not."
Elaine had to smile. "Not even if I let Rose off work early?"
"Can we talk about it?" Rose asked.
Elaine nodded but as she was about to leave, Alec called her back.
"No need to talk about it Rose, the answer is no Elaine, Rose and I have just embarked on a new relationship and constantly watching neighbours, opposite and next door is not ideal."
"You're just afraid the black widow next door will come after you," Rose laughed.
"Too right I am. So, we agree, you find someone else?"
"I'll hand it over to the appropriate department."
"So I can come in the office a few hours a day?"
"Yes and if Rose just happens to get a call from you saying you are feeling unwell, I will be compelled to let her go, you are still my responsibility."
Elaine left and said they would fill the details in later.
"Ready to go home?" Rose asked.
"Well it's not exactly home Rose."
"Can we go for a walk first?"
"Sure, do you have to come back?"
"That depends on how you are feeling, you heard the chief. Don't you go making up excuses to get me out of work early all the time."
"Me? Would I do that? I'm hurt by the suggestion I would call you for no other reason than to lure you back to spend time with me, lying on the bed or in the lounge area of the caravan."
"You wouldn't? You're no fun then."
"Well take me back and I will show you how much fun I am and when we get in the corridor, don't go telling me I can't take the stairs."
"Yes Sir, I know why you want to take the stairs, so you can snog me on the way down."
"You got me. Rose, will you please escort me from the building and to our temporary accommodation?"
"DI Hardy, don't forget your jacket," she teased, going to get it off the hook.
"Rose, how can I forget it? This is where we came in."
The End!
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