A/N: Don't quote me on divorce proceedings, I made them all up for the purpose of the story (I think!)
They got to the hotel and Alec took them through the side entrance and up to his room. Putting her things on the chair, Rose was suddenly not as confident as when she had left. The confrontation with Mickey had clouded her better judgement and she was beginning to have doubts she could go ahead with this. Alec had noticed.
''Not backing out are you Tyler?'' he asked, walking up to her and putting his arms around her neck so she raised her own arms and put them around his slim waist.
She looked up at him. ''No, 'course not, it's just he fazed me out a little bit, you know. I was confident until he came back, if we'd got away a few minutes earlier, I wouldn't have seen him.''
''Don't let it put you off Rose, come on, forget about him. Tomorrow, you'll have the papers, get him to sign and you're free. Don't make the same mistake I did, pretending you can put things right. He's still playing on your feelings, it seems to me that's all he ever did. Let me ask you something. You can tell me to mind my own business if you want?''
''Ask me, I don't want any secrets between us. I just can't tell anyone, that's all. I want to, I want everyone to know but if anyone finds out, Mickey won't sign. How are we gonna keep all this quiet?''
He held her tightly. ''Rose, I told you I don't care about that. Maybe, if he does find out, it will make him realise he was just using you.''
''Yeah and it might go against me, complicate things. I can't see him being able to afford a fancy divorce lawyer though, Mickey likes to spend his money, I'm the one that keeps us afloat. He'll probably end up in a cheap B&B somewhere at the back of town, I only pay half rent, I get the rest paid since I'm away from home. I told him he could stay until I give notice on the house but after that, he might use that against me, say I threw him out.''
''Rose, once he's signed, he can't do that, trust me and once he has signed, he can't name me either, not unless he gets a lawyer and even then it will be hard to prove. Just go to the court tomorrow and get the paperwork, I'll help you fill it all in or they can do it for you. Take your time, then all he has to do is sign, he can't claim he doesn't know what to fill in. What are you going to do about your house, once you've given notice?''
''I'll have to wait until the month's up, get my allowance transferred. I'll just have to go back there and put up with it. I can't stay here.''
''Well it may cause a few problems but I can still sneak you in ever night,'' he smiled, leaning down to kiss her. ''Anyway, there was something else I wanted to ask you. Besides Mickey, was there ever anyone else? I mean come on Rose, you had absolutely no idea what I was doing to you, did you?''
Rose leaned into his chest, wishing she had unfastened his shirt buttons first. She shook her head.
''There was someone Alec, when I was sixteen. I left school to go live with him, he was in a band and I thought I was special to him until he started coming home and hitting me for not having his tea ready or because I had my period or even because he came home drunk and couldn't even see straight. After six months, he went out one night after he hit me and told me he'd kill me if I was there when he got back so I grabbed my stuff and ran back home. My mum called the police and they paid him a visit but it was my word against his. They couldn't do anything. He told my mum if she called them again, he'd beat her up as well. Some of her friends paid him a visit and roughed him up and he never came near after that.''
Alec shook his head. What the hell had happened to her? And yet, she had overcome it all and was a detective sergeant, well detective inspector in all but name, she had passed her exams and he had come along and deprived her of the promotion. He felt like a complete ass for doing so.
''Tell me his name Rose, I want to know who did that to you. You ran from him and went to Mickey?''
''No. Not at first, it took me almost a year until I agreed to go out with him. I went to collage and enrolled as a cadet in the Metropolitan Police. I was lucky, a sergeant there took me under his wing and encouraged me because I swore no-one would ever do that to me or any other young women again. He encouraged me not to mess about being an ordinary WPC and got me into the detectives programme, I was a DC by the time I was 22. Got my promotion to DS and got a transfer down here, just after we got married. I think Mickey saw that as his way out.''
''Maybe but men have used you Rose, you deserve a new fresh start. Let me help you? Let me take care of you love?''
He kissed her forehead and Rose pulled herself closer, beginning to feel tears in her eyes. Alec was the kindest man apart from Sergeant Morley back in the academy, he had been like the father she had never known to her, supporting her all the way through the academy and cheering the loudest at her graduation. Then he had wasted no time in getting her trained further, taking advance classes. She had worked hard to get where she was today and had been angry with Alec for stealing her job, quite rightly.
He sensed she was crying now and put his finger under her chin. ''Look at me Rose, please. Tell me his name because I swear, he'll regret what he did to you.''
''The men from the estate took care of him, he won't be fooling any other young girls into playing house with him. Leave it Alec, he's not worth it.''
She knew he wouldn't let it rest now.
''OK, for now but I'll get it out of you one of these days. Let's get you settled then tomorrow, while you're at the court, I'll find us some alternative accommodation. What about those apartments around from the station?''
Rose tried to dry her eyes as Alec reached for a tissue from the bedside table.
''They're mostly holiday apartments, a bit expensive I think. There's always the caravan park, there are some really nice ones and I expect they'll have plenty of vacancies.''
''I'll look into it then, just as a temporary measure until I find something else.''
Rose managed a smile, he was cheering her up already. ''There are those riverside chalets across from the caravan site.''
''I don't think so Rose, I don't like water. Except for the shower that is.''
''Why, what happened?''
''What makes you think that something happened?''
''I don't know but I do know something happened to you, what are you afraid of Alec?''
''I'm afraid you'll ask me too many questions. Maybe I'll tell you one day?''
She was going to make sure he actually did. ''Aw and I thought if we went to the caravan site I'd get you in the swimming pool.''
''I never said I'd object to watching you if you're wearing a bikini, did I?''
''Only if we were on our own Alec. I'm tired, can we have an early night?''
''Sure, anything you want but go easy on me, I've had a tough day.''
Rose went into the bathroom after borrowing a t-shirt and some boxers, forgetting to pack her pyjamas, Alec saying she had done it on purpose. While she was in there, he took his pills and hoped they would be enough, he had neglected to take them earlier and vowed to take them as a precaution, not as an afterthought. Rose was going to take some keeping up with but he was determined he was going to look after her from now on so he had to make the effort.
Rose came out of the bathroom and climbed into his bed while he went in and then he climbed in beside her.
''I hope that you're staying tonight Tyler, no excuses you have to get home, right?''
Rose snuggled up to him. ''Mmm, I've got nowhere to go, I'm not going back there except to get some more stuff. Looks like you've got yourself a room mate. I'd best warn my friend Jen I've told Mickey I'm staying with her.''
''Oh, she's real then? I thought you had made her up or that was your new name for me,'' he smiled, checking she had nothing under the t-shirt she had 'borrowed'. He might just claim his boxers back as well later.
Rose giggled as he leaned on his side and began by lifting the grey t-shirt up and kissing her tummy then worked his way up as he leaned over more and began kissing her soft parts, slowly, taking his time on one then the other and inbetween. Rose's head was spinning when he began working his way down and moved the waistband of her borrowed shorts then gave her a wicked smile, it suddenly dawning on him they were his shorts and why they were designed as they were.
He thought she would protest as he moved his fingers through the gap, making her flinch at first as he touched her, his other hand now on her inner thigh, just under the leg of the shorts.
''Rose, may I touch you?''
''Alec, please, you don't need to ask me.''
''Oh but I needed to Rose, that would make me no better than the others would it?''
''Then you don't need to ask me again. I trust you Alec.''
He moved until he was astride her and lowered the boxers over her hips after he touched her in all the right places, making her move around. There was no giggling like there had been earlier on the sofa in the hut and Alec knew he must be doing something right as he pulled down his own boxers and lay on her. Rose wrapped her legs around his waist, letting him move them where he wanted them then he lay on her gently and she let out a gasp as a repeat of earlier, only much better Alec thought took place as he moved against her, never attempting any more.
Rose was whispering beneath him, calling his name as he urged her to do what she was doing earlier, groping him as they touched. He began calling her 'love' as he asked her to move again, Rose letting him guide her where he wanted her.
Finally, Rose shuddered at something he did, causing him to stop.
''Are you ok love?'' he asked, sounding concerned.
''Mmm, sorry, I startled you, it was just, well you must have caught a rather sensitive spot I never knew I had.''
Alec smiled. ''Really? Do you remember exactly where it was?''
Rose smacked him playfully.
''Careful love, I may get used to you smacking and groping my ass. Are you tired?''
''Mmm, a little but we can fool around some more, you can let me go on top now maybe?''
He moved onto his side. ''Be my guest love.''
She slid over him until she was hovering over him, Alec making out her best features in the light from outside the room since he hadn't pulled over the curtains. He put his hands on her hips, tracing her curves. He couldn't believe how men had treated her. After kissing over his chest, she settled on him and sprawling herself out, fell asleep after they both pulled up their shorts, Alec saying he would get the ones she was wearing back off her in the morning.
They were rudely woken just after six by Rose's mobile buzzing on the bedside table. Alec was swatting his hand thinking it was a flying insect that had got in the room as Rose's eyes opened and she saw the display 'Station' on the screen. She reached over him to sit up after retrieving the offending object that had deprived her snuggling up to her boss and now apparently her lover after the best night she had experienced in her life.
Alec had just registered she was talking into her phone when she just said, ''Tyler''
She listened, horrified and said to the caller after they asked if she wanted them to call Hardy. ''No, I'll call him and collect him. Tell forensics to wait until we get there and cordon off the area. Give us twenty minutes or so, I'll have to go down and collect him and he'll be a right grumpy arse this time in the morning.''
She grinned at the man who was staring at her, daring her to suggest he was grumpy in the mornings. Then he realised she couldn't just come out and say she had been groping his grumpy arse last night.
''So that's what you lot call me is it? Care to tell me what other aliases I go by at the station?''
She could think of a few.
''Ok. Maybe I don't really want to know, just don't tell anyone you sampled my grumpy arse last night or I might suddenly remember where I hit your sensitive spot last night.''
''Yes Sir, best get your arse out of bed then.''
''I seem to remember twenty minutes or so to get down there, that gives us ten minutes to spare since you don't have to call me and kick me down the stairs.''
Rose giggled as he put the phone on the bedside table and lifted the t-shirt and put his hand through the gap in the shorts.
''From now on, you wear those in bed and how did you get that t-shirt on?''
''While you were still opening your puppy brown eyes, I'm not talking on the phone without any clothes on.''
''Seriously? They can't see you, did you think you would hit the video call button by mistake?''
''Anything's possible after you left me in that state last night.''
''Really? I left you in a state?''
''Shut up Hardy, you're wasting time. You never even asked why we're going out at this time.''
''Well it had better be good, I was quite looking forward to taking my shorts and t-shirt back.''
''Trust me, someone found Jack Marshall on the beach at first light, seems he walked into the sea.''
''Oh and you don't think that's important enough?''
He started to get out of bed and Rose thought she had well and truly blown any chance of romance with him out of the window. That was until he turned and said, ''Well I suppose it saved you time, being here.''
Then he reached down to kiss her. ''Come on Tyler, let's show them how efficient we are and get there on time.''
''I thought you were mad at me?''
''Don't be daft Rose, geez, you'd best get used to me. I'm still going to get my t-shirt back.''
They arrived at the beach, standing over the still form of the harbour newsagent.
''I should have taken more notice,'' Alec said.
Rose just wanted to put her arms around him and hug him.
''Those morons, Mickey said something was going on at the sea scout hut last night. They must have threatened him, they drove him to this.''
''We don't know that Tyler, we'll get a full report at the station, let forensics do their job. Remember, you have to go to the court later.''
''Yeah but I don't want to leave you to do all the work.''
''Forget it, I'll delegate. We'll call and get some breakfast on the way back to the station.''
''There's nowhere open yet, it's only seven.''
''Small towns,'' Alec muttered as the ambulance took Jack off the beach.
There was no point in going back to the hotel so Rose drove them up into the town, remembering a café that opened early and Alec ordered breakfast for them both. Sitting at the back of the café, they talked quietly, Alec taking her hand as she sat beside her.
''I was looking forward to waking up properly with you this morning Tyler.''
''Mmm, I was looking forward not to be fighting over the toaster and you retrieving your underwear.''
''It will wait. We'll go back to the station then you can go up to the court, I'll have people locating his ex wife, then I want you to visit the newspaper and find out exactly what Stevens had on him and why he didn't get all the facts.''
Rose was looking at someone reading a newspaper and got up. She took out her badge and asked if she could borrow the daily newspaper. The headlines were about Jack.
Alec shook his head.
''No wonder, he must have seen them when he went to collect his deliveries. Why couldn't they just leave him alone?''
Since they were already in the town and going back to the hotel was futile, they both decided to pay a visit to the newspaper office but Alec had seen Rose's reaction to the newspaper headlines and knew she had taken it personally. If he wanted to get through this investigation, he was going to have to let her go ahead and take some of the slack. Besides, if the town's junior reporter had done some research and kept to the facts, this would never have happened and if DS Tyler was going to tear a strip off Olly Stevens, he wanted a front row seat.
Rose stormed into the office just after eight thirty.
''Hello Rose,'' Olly greeted her, getting up. He had always fancied her and thought she didn't belong with that clown Mickey.
Rose barged her way in, not all the staff had arrived yet. Alec hung back, knowing she was about to lose it.
''What the hell have you done Oliver?''
''I don't know what you mean Rose, about what?''
Maggie, the editor had heard Rose's raised voice and came out of her office.
''What's the matter Rose?'' she asked, looking at the fiery blonde who everyone in the town knew had a temper when she was riled, especially after she had dragged her husband home from the local.
''Don't say you know nothing about this Maggie? Oliver's little story about Jack Marshall all over the nationals?''
Maggie looked at Hardy as if to ask who was doing the questioning here and it clearly wasn't him.
''Oliver? What's Rose talking about?''
''How do I know?''
Rose looked at Alec, who nodded slightly, the news would come out later that day anyway.
''Jack killed himself last night because of you, setting that mob on him. Jack was not a suspect, he told us what happened, his previous conviction and you screwed it all up, twisted it and sent a mob of crazed men after him. For goodness sake Olly, you should have checked your facts before going with this story. He was innocent in all this and you drove him to it.''
Rose was getting even madder and Alec put his hand on her shoulder. He didn't envy the snivelling reporter nor her husband once she had the divorce papers served on him.
''Come on Tyler, that's enough now, I think he got the point.''
''I'm sorry Rose, I had no idea this would happen, we'll print an apology,'' Maggie assured her.
''Tell that to his widow Maggie.''
She turned around and Alec followed her out after telling Olly, ''I'd stay out of her way if I were you, believe me.''
He intended to make sure he stayed out of her bad books himself.
Rose was waiting in her car, hands on the steering wheel, gripping it tightly. Alec would have kissed her if they weren't in full view of the full High Street. Instead he put his hand on her knee.
''Come on Rose, forget it, drop me at the station and you get off to the court.''
She managed to turn and smiled at him. ''You still want me to go ahead with it after seeing me lose my temper?''
''Tyler, you have no idea how proud I am of you right now, your temper almost rivals mine but I've been holding back. When you've got your divorce papers signed, there's something I have to tell you.''
TBC