Alec got out of bed and put his t-shirt on, they hadn't got round to taking off their underwear, thankfully, he thought. He was going to at least attempt to get further in bed than they had been doing for the last few nights. He had known her almost a week, a week that had changed his life and turned it upside down – Rose Tyler had left him in turmoil and he was fast falling for her. He'd just admitted to her he wanted to take care of her on a long-term basis, what more could he offer? He had told her in no uncertain terms he would not let her scatter her atoms into oblivion, void or no void, it wasn't something he wanted to watch and deep inside her, she probably knew that.
He opened the bedroom door, there was just a little light coming in through the window, Rose just turned onto her side and she heard him go out. Then she realised she had driven away the only man who had been kind to her and if she didn't act fast enough, he would be gone by morning and she would be homeless. The police would stop paying for the caravan and she didn't have much money again.
She got out of bed and put her vest top on and her pyjama bottoms, the ones he had teased had been a waste of money because she had never even worn them. Tomorrow she was meant to go back to the site manager and hopefully have some sort of a job. She opened the door and found the kitchen area light on and Alec coming out of the spare room with a duvet and a pillow, throwing it on the seating area.
He had gone in, looked at the empty bed and knew he couldn't sleep there, not without her. Tomorrow he would pack his things and tell the police he had changed his mind and go back to the hotel until he remembered Rose had said there would be reporters. She would probably be on the first bus out of here in the morning anyway, she didn't have much to take with her so he would leave early and she would be gone when he got back.
How could she even still think about putting herself in danger? Ok, she missed her family and friends but was it worth risking her life to get back? She could end up in yet another reality, a far crueller fate to await her where the Alec Hardy of that one was mean and nasty and not just grumpy. One who would use her and maybe even abuse her and she would be at his mercy. If he himself had been well, would he have been so patient with her? He knew he wouldn't have been. She was gorgeous, intelligent and independent but she was also broken and so was he.
He looked up as he realised she was standing by the bedroom door after he threw down the bedding, folding it like a sleeping bag.
"What?" he asked, turning the duvet corner down and trying to decide which way to get into it.
She didn't answer.
"Turn out the light when you go back in, since you're there. I'll make it easy for you, I'll leave early so you can pack your things and go back to London then you can do what the hell you like. I don't want to know if you disappear into that damn void or not so don't give Pete Tyler my number just for him to tell me you've gone."
Rose was about to go turn out the light as he finally got under the duvet, stretching out his long legs and wishing he had put his pyjama bottoms on as the seat material felt funny as the duvet had moved. She turned it out and turned to go back then changed her mind and ran over to him, sitting at the other end.
"I'm sorry."
"So am I Rose."
She pulled up the duvet by his feet but he moved over. "Come here Rose."
He pulled the duvet back and he moved up against the back of the seat and she crawled in beside him, holding on so she wouldn't fall off.
"I need you Alec."
"I'm sorry I said all that. I care about you Rose, don't you get that? Isn't that enough?"
Rose was clinging hold of him and was already asleep.
When she woke up, she almost fell off the seat had Alec not still be holding onto her. It was early, just gone seven and she wondered where she was for a moment, suddenly realising Alec was awake.
"Hi," she said, rather gingerly, half forgetting their fight last night and why she had chosen to sleep in the lounge and not in bed, on top of him.
"Hi, you didn't have to sleep here last night you know, there are two beds in here."
"Well you weren't going to sleep in one so neither was I. I guess I'll go pack then?"
She tried to get off the seat but he held her.
"No Rose, where would you go besides back to London? Then what?"
"Persuade Pete Tyler to let me in Torchwood or at least adopt me in name so I can get on with trying to find a way back."
"Have you ever thought there is no way back Rose or do you refuse to believe it's even remotely possible?"
She lay back on the pillow they had managed to share as he propped himself up.
"I suppose it's remotely possible, yeah but if it isn't? Do I give up Alec?"
"I'm not saying to ever give up Rose, I'm being selfish because I don't want you to go so don't feel you have to take notice of what I say. Stay with me?"
He leaned down and touched her nose with his. "We still have an hour before I have to get ready for work."
"I'll stay with you and it's me that's being selfish, I didn't think what it was doing to you. I promise, I won't bring it up again in front of you and I'll do some research on the laptop to see what differences there are here and see if I can figure things out, if that's ok with you? I guess I'll have to accept things for now but I want you to get well again, please, don't let me be the only reason you're thinking about it."
"Well you were the only reason but I suppose I can do it for my daughter, not just for you. I never thought how it would affect others. You do know what you're letting yourself in for, don't you?"
He sought her lips and kissed her lightly. She responded by grabbing the collar of his t-shirt.
"We could go back to bed?"
"And spoil the fun of you holding on to me to stop you falling off?" Alec smiled.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
Alec carefully climbed onto her, taking his t-shirt off and pulling her pyjama bottoms down but leaving his shorts on since he didn't really fancy cleaning up later.
He called her name as he lay on her, her legs wrapped around him. Then he looked down and smiled.
"I was going to ask you, last night, if you wanted to make use of my buying something?"
"Oh. I'm sorry Alec, I really am and I didn't mean it, it's just difficult. What you said though, did you mean it? About taking care of me?"
"Of course I do, what do you take me for? I wouldn't just go off and leave you to fend for yourself or be at the mercy of Pete Tyler. We'll get your ID sorted one way or another. You could have done worse than finding me though. I was thinking the Alec Hardy in your own version of reality could be twice as bad and be totally fit. I'm rather tame at the moment so make the most of it because if I ring the hospital and they put me right, well just watch out, that's all I'm saying."
"You're so full of it Alec Hardy and what makes you think I'd want another version of you anyway?"
He kissed her again before making her squeal. They hurriedly got dressed then Rose made him some breakfast, their problems put on hold for the time being.
As he was eating, he asked if she still planned on getting that job.
"I have to Alec, it well help establish my ID. I'll look to see where I can put down as my place of birth. Do you think they will notify Pete Tyler if I put him down?"
"I seriously doubt it. Why don't you try ringing him and ask?"
"Well I didn't exactly ask him for his phone number before I left and what if she answers? I really don't like her. I met her, the other one, when we went there the first time."
"There's still a lot you haven't told me yet, don't you trust me?"
"I'll tell you, if you really want to know. It's been a week now, I can't believe it, that this time last Friday I was at home."
"Then this can be your home for now. We'll stay here a few weeks, I'll call the hospital and get an appointment then when I get out, we'll look for somewhere else, unless you are thinking of going to London?"
"You said there was no point Alec, you're right, the answer's not at Torchwood, I guess I already knew that. I'll try and get Pete's number somehow or can you get it for me?"
"I'll try and I'll text it to you if I get it. I suppose I'll have more luck at getting it than you will. So, definitely no zapping into the void then?"
Rose nodded. "Ok, I promise. I never thought how it would affect you."
She got up and put her arm around him, kissing his cheek. "Go on, you don't want to be late."
"Rose, I practically live next door, how can I possibly be late?"
He got up to put his arms around her. "Give me a big sloppy kiss before I leave then. Meet for lunch?"
"Yes, call me or send a message if you send me Pete's number. I'm off about that job."
He let her go. "Good luck Angel."
Rose cleared up, put the laundry on then got the CRB check and walked down to the office. She was in for a disappointment.
"I'm sorry Miss Tyler but head office won't allow anyone who doesn't work here to run the playroom. All I can do is offer you an application form but I seriously doubt they will take you on just in that capacity and business is extremely slow for this time of year but you're welcome to try."
"Well thanks anyway, I'll take the form if I don't get anything else."
She had been looking forward to it so it was down to her to advertise her services so she went back and connected to the internet and went to the local paper's website to look at the wanted ads. She knew it was too expensive for her to put one in of her own so the following morning when they were going shopping, she would put a card on the supermarket's notice board. Then she remembered there was a newsagent just by the harbour and thought she would go to the shop and buy a packet of postcards and leave some in the High Street as well.
Child-minding seemed the best option so she went to the council's website and looked up childcare. She couldn't believe all the trouble a person had to go to in order to register but she supposed people had to be careful so maybe that was out, plus she found out insurance was needed so it wouldn't be worthwhile if she were to just do it in someone's home. She couldn't bring them to a caravan. Disappointed with that, she began searching for all the registry offices in London to see if any of them hit the news in past but had no luck there either so a call to Pete Tyler it would have to be.
If she just explained she didn't want his money, maybe he would let her use him to get all her ID. Alec called just after eleven to see how she was getting on.
Alec could tell she was upset. "So it didn't work out then? Never mind love, just keep looking, don't give up. I have that number you wanted but promise me you'll wait until I get back, I don't want you getting upset if he refuses to help you any further. I'll ask around the station, see if anyone needs childcare or taking to school after the holidays. We don't have childcare here, maybe I can ask the chief?"
"Don't get my hopes up again Alec, I've had enough this morning."
"Come on Rose, cheer up. Why don't I bring some food back and we can snuggle on the seat for half an hour. Would that help?"
"Yeah, it would. Just bring back whatever you're having."
After Alec got back for lunch, drawing the curtains and having a serious snogging session, Rose felt a little better. She promised she would do nothing else until he got back. He tried to cheer her up further.
"We'll go shopping in the morning and don't worry about getting a job too much as long as you promise not to be buying new dresses all the time, ok?"
"Ok, no dresses for now but you have no idea how large my wardrobe was back home."
He puts his arms around her, her head resting on his chest.
"Rose, if you were used to buying dresses all the time, I have news for you. These are only small wardrobes, you would need one that's bigger on the inside."
Rose smiled to herself – if only he knew.
After taking the wet laundry to get dried, the time came for Alec to come home, Rose was watching out of the window. Dinner was on and she had just a t-shirt and jeans on, opting to try and please him by wearing nothing underneath but a skimpy pair of knickers she had bought at the market. She greeted him with a long kiss and since dinner wasn't quite ready, she used Alec's phone to call Pete Tyler.
He offered to call on her behalf but she said she had to do this on her own.
"I don't mind doing it for you Rose, you know that?"
"Yeah but I don't want you involved Alec, he might report you to your chief."
She dialled the number and a man's voiced answered with "The Tyler residence, may I help you?"
Rose just hoped he hadn't already left if he wasn't actually living there any more.
"Can I speak to Mr Tyler please?"
"Just hold the line. May I say who is calling?"
"Just say it's Rose, he'll know who it is." Well at least she hoped he did.
"Rose Tyler, I didn't expect to hear from you again so soon. If you've run out of money already, I'm afraid I can't help you."
"I don't want your money, I need to ask you something else."
"Go on."
"I need to establish my ID and I can't do that without a birth certificate."
"So what do you need my help for then? Oh, wait a minute, you want to use my name for one, put down I'm your father. Do you know what my wife will do if I do that? Believe me, I don't even want to go there. You've met her, you know what she's like. Do you know how long she went on at me after you'd left?"
"I'm sorry. I had nowhere else to go. Look, I don't want your money, I have someone who's helping me with that, sort of but I can't get a job unless I have proper papers, social security and all that. Can you help me get them?"
The line went quiet. "Can I get you on this number?"
"Yeah, it belongs to a friend I've made, he's called Alec."
"Not Alec Hardy, the detective on that case down in Dorset? Are you serious? Do you know what kind of trouble you'd be in if he found out?"
Rose looked at Alec. "He already knows and he's ok with it. I thought he was someone that I knew when I came down here but he offered to help me."
"Listen to me Rose, listen very carefully. Don't trust anyone, you are just asking for trouble. Did you read up about him? He lost evidence in the last major case he was on and they supposedly vindicated him but I don't think that was anything other than sweeping the whole thing under the carpet, him being a senior officer. Get out Rose, while you still can, he'll be watching you and he'll just turn you in."
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
"Call me back on Monday morning and I'll see what I can do over the weekend. I'm sorry, that's all I can tell you. Just get out Rose."
She hung up and looked at Alec, who had gone to stir the pan on the stove. Should she take Pete's advice and leave him? Did she trust a man in London who she had met just once and was her stepfather's counterpart in this version of the world or did she trust Alec, the man she was falling in love with, the double of the man she lost all those years ago? Some choice.