AN: Please keep in mind that I'm completely ignoring that season 2 and 3 happened.

Enjoy!

'El, he's not been to work. Maggie's sent him off for a couple of days after he burst into tears at work.'

'Shit.' she swore. 'You've called everyone who might have a clue where he is?'

'Yes.'

'Anything at all?'

'No.'

'We're going to the police.' she decided. 'I'll pick you up.'

She glanced at her watch, it was almost three o'clock. She texted Tom to let him know where she was and that he would have to collect Fred from daycare. Grabbing her coat she headed downstairs. As she walked down the car park she send a quick text to Hardy.

-Olly's been missing for three days. We're going to the police.-

Only seconds later the reply arrived.

-I'm coming with you-

Brilliant. Lucy would really appreciate that, she thought sarcastically. Rapidly she typed another message.

-You don't have to-

This time it took him until she was sitting in the car and had already started the engines to reply.

-Shut up, Miller-

.

.

.

Her sister wasn't even surprised that when they arrived at the Police Station the former DI was already waiting for them.

As Ellie went to open the door a hand on her arm stopped her. Despite the sad look in her eyes, Lucy sounded worried and slightly irritated.

'I thought I had told you to stay out of that mans way.'

Slumping back in her seat Ellie placed her hand over her sisters. 'Don't worry about me, I know what I'm doing.'

Lucy shook her head. 'Clearly you don't.'

Ellie sighed and dropped her hand. 'Why does everyone think he is dangerous?'

The subject of their conversation was currently frowningly looking at the discussing women in the car.

Lucy sighed, 'You know what happened in Sandbrook, right?'

'Yes.'

'Look at him, really look at him. He's a broken man, something happened and he clearly isn't over it. He can't help you, El. He can't even help himself, how would you expect him to help you?'

The wind blew through his hair, messing it up even more. He stood perfectly still, hands clasped behind his back. The rough lines in his face had deepened and he looked tired, though he was trying to hide that by keeping his head firmly held high.

It was difficult to make out his expression from this distance, but she could imagine he was staring at them thoughtfully. His posture made her want to be able to see his eyes to see if they were as sad as Lucy's.

She knew Alec Hardy would be able to help her. How, she did not know yet, she just knew he would. Was it rude to expect that from him? He had offered her his help himself...

'I don't know.' She freed her arm and stepped out of the car.

Lucy did the same and together they walked up to the Police Station. Ellie had found it quite strange that her sister hadn't been panicking before, but now those worries quickly disappeared as Lucy gripped her arm tightly and she could feel her tremble.

'Hey,' she said soothingly. 'It's Olly, he's an adult. He's old and wise enough to not get himself into trouble.'

'He's never been away so long before...'

'I know.' she squeezed her hand lightly. 'He'll be all right.'

.

.

.

'No-one's seen the lad then?' Hardy asked as they stopped before him.

Ellie shook her head negatively. 'Maggie says she's given him a couple of days off, he hasn't stayed at Lucy's, nor with me, as far as I know he hasn't been seen for 2 days at least.'

'I've spoken to some people on my way here, but nobody knows where he is.' he smiled sadly. 'Some of his friends, though, told me that he might have run off with that journalist from the Daily Harold, I wasn't sure if he was joking.'

Upon seeing Lucy's shocked expression he added: 'I've called her, said she hadn't seen him for a week.'

Ellie almost unnoticeably shook her head. He was being rude again.

'Come on, Lucy.' She pulled the almost crying woman in the direction of the station.

Alec trailed after them as they ascended the steps that led to the entrance. He felt nervous, though there was no reason why he should be. Except maybe that he had no reasonable excuse to be here.

This was foolish. There were a couple of reasons why he had decided to come. First of all, it worried him that he hadn't heard from Ellie since... had the funeral been on a Wednesday? Secondly, he found it suspicious that the reporter whose name had been on the latest articles on the Danny Latimer case was missing. Also, he still needed to clean that desk.

What Alec hadn't thought of before he had texted Ellie was that he had no idea when the new DI would start. And as much as he wanted to see with his own eyes how the local police force was coping with the aftermath of his case, he most certainly wasn't ready to find out if the DI who went by his old friend's name, really was the Jon he thought he had lost.

'Sir!'

He hadn't realised he had stopped walking. His hands were balled into fists and he was breathing hard. No wonder Miller was looking at him worriedly.

'Are you all right?'

'Yeah.' He straightened his back and walked past her.

'You didn't have to come.'

'I know.'

They came to a halt about two meters behind Lucy who was already talking to one of the officers.

'Then why are you here?' she hissed. Then her voice softened a little. 'You look awful.'

'Speak for yourself.' he grunted.

She hit him on the arm. 'Oh, shut up.'

'Careful.' he pouted a little. 'That arm is still sore from last time you did that.'

She hit him again and Alec was surprised that he had actually made her smile.

Suddenly Ellie snapped back into focus. 'We should help Lucy.'

Of course they should. Why was he joking while there was a kid missing? Even though that kid was a fully self responsible adult that had probably just run off with some friends for some days and forgot to charge his phone.

He coughed and slightly embarrassed looked around the room. More than three pairs of eyes were watching them curiously. OK, not just slightly embarrassed anymore.

'When and where exactly have you last seen this young man?'

The officer was holding a little photograph of Oliver, presumably the one Ellie kept in her wallet, and took notes with his other hand. Alec absentmindedly noticed the man was left-handed.

'I last saw him Wednesday evening at the beach.' Lucy's voice trembled. 'I think it was about nine o'clock. Paul Coates said he'd seen him leave about thirty minutes later.'

'Have you contacted everyone who might have seen him? Girlfriend, co-workers?'

Lucy nodded. 'No-one has seen him since that evening.'

'Are there any places your son often visits?'

'Not that I can think of, no.'

Ellie placed her hand on her sisters shoulder, encouragingly or soothing, he couldn't decide which, and whispered something in her ear. Whatever she'd said, it gave her the chills, but she nodded nevertheless. 'When he has had a bad day he often goes to the beach.'

It was clear that she didn't want to say "on the cliffs" and the man nodded that he understood, taking down another note.

They were told that they would be looking out for Oliver and that Lucy had to make a call when her son would turn up. In the meantime his details would be sent to police forces in the area.

Hardy had been watching all the people in the room individually. Only a few were actually doing their work, the rest was too occupied by the two ex-detectives. Most of the eyes were glued to Ellie and he could hear people whisper busily to each other behind their hands. They would be the main subject of gossip today.

Ellie was still standing with her back turned to them and he felt more and more eyes switching to him. He turned on his heels and exited the building. Outside he sat down on the steps, cringing as the fabric of his trousers scoured the wounds on the inside of his thigh. He repeated the motion, closing his eyes and shifting his focus. He breathed in deeply through his nose and held his breath for a few seconds before slowly exhaling through his mouth. He repeated this and felt a bit of the tension leave his shoulders.

'Alec!'

His eyes flew open and he stared up in shock. Ellie was standing in front of him, eyebrows raised.

'What are you doing?' she demanded.

He quickly changed position, looking up at her innocently. 'Just sitting here.'

'You're a very bad liar.'

He shrugged and his gaze shifted to the hands that he had folded between his knees. 'I shouldn't be here.'

'Me neither.'

They fell silent and watched as an officer he didn't recognise left the building and greeted Ellie as he walked by.

'Did you really ask around about Oliver?'

'Of course I did.'

She seemed surprised. 'Why?'

He groaned, slightly irritated. 'Because I did.'

'Thank you.' Her voice was soft and now he could see that, while she had been acting so bravely around her sister, she too was worried sick.

Lucy exited the station, wiping her eyes with the back of one hand, and headed toward them. Ellie held out her hands and raised him to his feet. She pulled him a bit closer and quickly whispered: 'Can we talk?'

He nodded. 'Tonight?'

'I'll text you.' she changed her voice back to normal. ' Thank you, Sir.'

Even Lucy managed to, almost politely, say goodbye and Hardy watched as Ellie placed her arm firmly around her sisters waist and they walked away, softly talking to each other.

More and more people passed by as he sat there on the steps in the same position as before. Many of them stared at him, but they all avoided his eyes. Eventually he got up, stretched his legs and walked back to the hotel, wondering what Miller would need him for. Good reason was telling him she was supposed to take care of her sister now. However, if he was honest with himself, he didn't really care that much. After all, at this moment she was the only one who's company he could appreciate.

AN: Massive thanks to all of you who are still reading this fic. It really means a lot to me.