"That's not fair Alec and you know it. I've not known you that long but I did trust you with my secrets because I have no-one else, not even Mickey any more. I'm cut off from my family, the people I knew from before I went away, well I don't know what they think about me, Mickey spun them some sort of tale. I just don't know Alec, you don't seem the sort of man who would do such a thing but she's very compelling and she's out to split us up."

"Yes, she is and you are letting her win. Please Rose, just forget it tonight, I want to be with you, don't make me have bought those things for nothing?" he smiled, trying to get her to kiss him again.

He finally persuaded her to go get ready for bed and he took some more pills, to calm him down while he waited because he was furious about Claire, what the hell had he ever done to her to make her think he wanted her in that way? Even when he had been getting divorced from Tess, he'd been careful about how close he let Claire get and he'd risked a lot to be seen going to an abortion clinic with her and he'd had to say he was there in an official capacity to get to stay with her.

She had played on an act of kindness and now he was paying for it and Rose had got caught up in the middle of it. Rose was in the bathroom, telling herself she'd already made her mind up she wasn't going to ignore him tonight but that conversation hadn't helped. Why should she let Claire win? Claire was only half the problem though and she knew it, now Alec had brought up James again. She had been so wrapped up in getting away and settling back in her old world she'd hardly thought about it but they had spent three years together and after only two weeks of being here, she was falling in love with yet another similar man.

Alec was all she had here and she would drive him away and then be left on her own with no way back. At least when she had been trapped before, she'd had her mother and Mickey then she thought she had everything she wanted in James but that soon proved to be otherwise, had she really wanted James? If that had been the case, why had she wanted to know why the Doctor had left James with her? They'd had a few doubts when James had first got there but they had fallen back in their old routine like he'd never been away, never talked of getting married or kids, just being happy they had each other again.

James had told her of his adventures, Rose had got jealous over Martha and the woman, Astrid, from the Titanic but he'd told her none of them could ever have replaced her. Taking a last look in the mirror, she gathered her clothes and stepped out to see Alec nervously sat on the edge of the bed, the duvet turned down and a single red rose on the pillow that he'd bought when he'd got the flowers earlier.

He held his hand out to her and she took it as he got up.

"Alec, I'm really sorry, can we make up?"

"Yes Rose, I'd like that very much and I have something to say to you. I know this has all been rushed so during the week, what do you say to just seeing each other on your days off and weekends? Would that help? I don't really like the idea but if that's what it takes, then I'm willing to stick to that. What do you say? Maybe meet the odd lunchtime, if you want?"

"Alec, I don't know what to say. Yeah, I think it may help because I don't want to lose you. If Claire hadn't been at work today, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad but I was wrong to want to show you off to everyone, it didn't help things."

"You were not to know she would be there, she must have planned it so she had one day off the same as yours."

"Oh, I never thought of that. Do you think she's planning something else?"

"Yes love, I think she may just may well be so you have to be very careful."

Rose clung to him. "I'm scared of what she'll do now Alec."

"Shush Rose, it's ok, I won't let her go too far, I promise. I did not want to say anything to you earlier and I may have been mistaken but I think she was in the shelter just opposite your apartment as we left, goodness knows if she was there earlier, when we kissed at the window."

"You're scaring me even more Alec, what are we going to do?"

"Not let her win for one but just take it easy, stay away from her and if she comes around, don't let her in and call me, I can be there in a few minutes or send someone around if I'm out. Call Miller if you have to even but please Rose, don't let her get in our way and if you still want to back off, because of the other thing, then I understand and I'll stick to the arrangement. Now, are you getting into bed?"

He picked up the flower carefully and put it on the beside table. "It's not as beautiful as you Rose."

"You old softy. Let's just forget everything for tonight?"

"Yes Rose, I can do that and I just took two extra pills because that thing with Claire had got me worked up, what do you say about taking advantage eh?"

All Rose could think of as she pushed him onto the bed was a "Yes."

Rose decided she was going to take it easy the next day, do some shopping and cook something for when Alec got home.

"So are you staying here tonight then or shall I come to your place?" Alec asked as they got up and he tried to delay her running off to get changed, after they had kissed and fooled around.

"I don't want her watching us Alec."

"If I see her again, I'll have some officers warn her off. Now are you sneaking to the bathroom again to get ready?"

"I don't know, should I? Can I trust you not to peek while I get dressed?"

"Come on Rose, you were naked in bed with me last night."

Rose giggled. "Yeah but you couldn't see me properly, could you?"

"Then I may just keep the lamp on tonight shall I?"

"Let's just get used to each other, yeah?"

"Just for you love. Now I have to get breakfast ready or I'll be late for work"

"I can do that for you and I'll clear up too, leave me the key, won't you?" she called as she went to the bathroom, without her own clothes Alec noted.

He thought that was a good sign, he really felt like calling Claire and asking what the hell she was playing at but it would only make things worse, he believed Claire had changed her day off on purpose, just to see what she was missing.

Alec went off to work, saying they would meet for lunch, Rose was going home to get changed and then taking a walk to the supermarket and getting a taxi back to Alec's cottage later on and making dinner. Claire had gone to work as normal, catching Sarah before customers started going in.

"Did you know Rose was having Alec Hardy coming in yesterday?" she asked.

"No, not until he came in, I was a bit surprised to see him here. She just said to keep her free from half eleven and I'd no idea what for until he arrived. She had a bit of a nerve though, asking him in when he's just split with you."

"Yeah, didn't she just? That's not all though, he's doing it on purpose, to get back at me just because he turned up and my place on Saturday night and I told him to get lost and I'd brought another bloke home with me so you know what he did?"

Sarah shook her head.

"He took Rose off with him and probably took her to bed. I wouldn't mind, I introduced them the week before but she didn't have to steal him away from me, did she?"

"So you'd already split up?"

Claire was having trouble keeping up with her story but recovered quickly. She was about to explain when two women came into the salon so she got away with it. She had been going to say she'd got jealous over seeing him take an interest in Rose and was just doing the same to him and he'd taken it seriously though if she didn't watch out, it would go too far.

Ellie was having fun grilling Alec about Rose.

"So, is she your girlfriend or not then?" Ellie asked him as they went to the Latimer house.

"You tell me Miller, she seems all mixed up over her ex and that thing with Claire does not help."

"You'll just have to give her time then."

"I'm trying Miller, I even offered to back off and only see her on her days off and at the weekend. She said it may help but I still don't know if it will or not. She's cooking for me tonight though, at my place. She said she did not want Claire watching."

"Would she go that far?"

"Oh yes, she would go that far, I think she was in the shelter across from Rose's apartment as we went out last night so she came back to my place, she's getting scared of what lengths Claire will go to."

"Crikey, it sounds like one of those scary movies. Can't you do something?"

"I'm open to suggestions Miller, I can't prove any of it, Claire will only deny anything and say Rose is being paranoid."

"Yeah, well it seems Claire's the one causing Rose's paranoia. Maybe that's why Claire's doing it, to get to Rose?"

"Maybe but it's working. If I see Claire down by the shelter, I'll get some uniforms to move her on."

"As if she won't know who sent them – Sir," Ellie smiled as they arrived at the Latimer house.

Alec was worried about Rose but since she was going to his place before Claire would get out of work and he'd been careful not to tell her where he lived, he had to be content with meeting Rose for lunch across from the station.

"Everything ok love?" he asked as he sat opposite after placing his order, Rose had already got hers, having arrived early.

"Yeah, did you call the hospital?"

"Yes, I have an appointment for next Wednesday afternoon. Come with me?"

"Of course I will. Do you want anything from the supermarket?"

"No, I'm fine. Come across to the station and I'll give you ride up there."

"I was going to walk."

"You'll never get across that busy main road up there. It's a fair walk anyway."

Rose reluctantly followed Alec to the back of the police station after lunch and he retrieved his car from the underground garage.

"I don't know why you bother bringing your car to work if you leave it here all day," Rose remarked.

"I do it to annoy the person whose car it used to be," he smiled as they got in. "Miller drives me most of the time but if I have somewhere to go, it saves getting me a driver."

"Well I suppose you have a point then. You don't have to wait for me, I can get a taxi to your place."

"Well if you insist love. I'll be home by seven, if not, you have my permission to call Miller and tell her to throw me out."

"I'll hold you to that promise, don't worry," she told him as he pulled up outside the supermarket in the taxi pick-up area.

Once she got back to Alec's, at least she could relax without having to be worried Claire would be watching for any signs of movement outside her apartment but how had it got to this? She had been a Torchwood agent, scared of nothing and one jealous woman who Alec had nothing to do with romantically had reduced her to being paranoid. Claire was fast becoming her greatest enemy since being back in this universe.

She had looked at her device again that morning, it was still offline and had it been working, she may just have used it but not without saying goodbye to Alec. She didn't have to call Ellie, who had been surprised just before seven, Alec had told her to go home.

"What? Two early nights in a row? Remind me to thank Rose."

"Don't complain Miller, you can stay late if you want, I'm going home."

"You mean now you have someone to go home to?"

"It may not be every night Miller, she wanted me to back off, remember?"

"I did say to give her time, maybe it's all happening too fast for her?"

"I gathered that Miller, thanks for the advice."

Ellie let it slide and took advantage of getting off early to go see her youngest son before he went to bed. After Alec got home, getting a rather long unexpected greeting from Rose, they called at the pub for a drink and then took a walk towards Rose's apartment but Alec turned onto the stone pier instead, trying not to look at the water too much. They sat down and Alec put his arm around Rose, pulling her into his shoulder and kissing her forehead.

"So are you coming back to my place, since you are off again tomorrow?"

Rose reached up to kiss him. "Yeah, let me just call and get a few things for morning then, plus my PJ's"

"What do need those for eh?"

"So I don't have to borrow your t-shirt again," she teased, fingering one of his shirt buttons and sneaking another quick kiss while smoothing her fingers across his beard.

"You need that trimming again Alec."

"You need to stop before you get to like trimming it too much."

He helped her up and they walked the short distance to Rose's apartment, Alec making sure no-one was in the shelter. Claire had been waiting in the shelter but not seeing them while they were in the pub, had got the bus home after she saw no movement in Rose's apartment but since she was off the next day she was determined to catch Rose at some point, she wasn't finished with her just yet.

"Sure you don't want to just stay here?" Rose asked him

"I have work, it's easier for you to come to my place. What I said before, I meant it Rose, I'll come and stay with you tomorrow night, then we'll leave it until Saturday night, if you want?"

She put her pile of clothes on the bed and turned to him, putting her arms around his slim waist.

"Thanks Alec, you're being very good about all this."

"If that's what it takes, I'll do anything you ask Rose. Don't let the fact Claire may be hanging around put you off though. We are not going to hide from her."

"Yeah, I know Alec. Come on then, I'll just throw these into my shoulder bag. Can we get some chips on the way back?"

"I expect so, did I tell you Miller bought me fish and chips on the second night we were working the case?"

Rose smiled.

"I told her I couldn't eat them and she took it the wrong way, asked what kind of Scot I was not eating out of paper. It was only I prefer them on a plate or at least a carton, I can't eat all the grease."

"Well she didn't know that, did she? I'll be sure to get them in a carton then?"

"Oh, you mean to share?"

The next morning after Alec went to work, Rose tidied up then made her way back to her apartment, glancing in the shelter but thinking she was just getting paranoid but just after four, she had got back from the High Street, having decided to buy a sexy nightdress and surprise Alec when her doorbell went. Claire was standing there. Rose tried to close the door on her but Claire put her foot against it.

"Go away Claire or I'm calling Alec."

"Go on then, I'll make a scene if you do. I just want to talk to you Rose."

"Yeah, of course you do but I'm not listening to anything you have to say so just go."

"Don't you want to know why I changed my day off?"

"To spy on me."

"Don't flatter yourself Rose. No, I knew you'd think it was my day off and invite Alec to go get his hair cut."

"Lucky guess Claire. Now just go, I'm busy."

"Getting ready for Alec calling around are you?"

"It's none of your business and that rubbish you told me, I don't believe a word of it Claire so forget it and stop coming around here and waiting across in the shelter."

Claire laughed. "Why would I do something like that, I wouldn't waste my time. Did Alec say I'd been there?"

Rose declined to answer.

"Oh well he would say something like that, wouldn't he? He turned us against each other Rose."

"No he didn't, he made me see what a liar you are."

"Why do you believe him over me?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe it's because he's in the police?"

"Doesn't mean he does no wrong, ask him about Tess."

"He told me about his ex Claire, you're too late."

"Ask him what he was doing while she was seeing another DS."

With that, Claire moved her foot and Rose closed the door. Whatever Claire's game was, she wasn't going to play it any more and wouldn't mention it to him unless he brought it up. Alec turned up just after seven, Rose keeping the chicken casserole on a low heat in the oven and the veg ready to go in the microwave steamer.

Alec brought a bottle of white wine with him and a box of chocolates and greeted her with a kiss.

"That was nice sweetheart. How was your day?"

"Great until Claire showed up just after four."

He moved Rose to one side and went to the window. He'd left his car in the police car park, finding it easier to go around the back way and never passed the shelter though when he thought about it, he should have done really.

"Alec, what's wrong?" Rose asked, going up behind him.

"She will still be out there, hiding away somewhere."

"Well let's have dinner then we can go to your place."

"No, she is not driving us out."

He looked again and thought it was Claire sitting on the circular wall at the end of the esplanade, a woman was there looking at her phone but from that distance, he couldn't be sure it was actually her.

"Is that her?" Rose asked, putting her hand on his shoulder and him taking it, kissing the back of it.

"Forget it, if I can't tell it is her, she can't see us from where she is sitting. What did she want anyway?" he asked, moving away and leaning down to kiss her.

"The usual, that you are trying to stop me and her being friends. She did that herself when she told me those lies."

"So you know now she was lying eh?" he asked, going for her neck.

"She said ask you about what you were doing, when Tess was having an affair."

He let go of her and looked at her.

"Do you really want an answer to that Rose?"

"No, I trust you and I didn't even know you back then, I wasn't even in this universe anyway. I suppose she was trying to make me think you were with her?"

"Most likely. Rose, you can't believe anything she says, she opens her mouth and nothing but lies come out. She fooled both Tess and I about what happened in Sandbrook. I was daft enough to think she would turn on her husband but she will never do that. Tomorrow, I will call the rental agency and take my name off the lease as her guarantor."

"You got her that cottage?"

"Well yes, I did not want to be in the same town as her did I? Look Rose, if I had really been with her, would I have left her there?"

"No, I don't suppose so. I'm sorry Alec, it's all too confusing. I'll go serve dinner, chicken casserole."

"Sounds good to me love and no more talking about Claire."

After they had cleared the dishes, Rose put some music on and persuaded Alec to dance to a slow tune, never bothering about pulling the curtains over. Claire had taken up her position in the shelter, her last bus was in half an hour but Alec was leaning on Rose's shoulder, moving in time to the music and was about to kiss her neck when he saw a light from across the road.

Claire was checking the time then she glanced up and they had moved from the window, she'd been watching the two of them necking for at least half hour or so, couldn't they have pulled the curtains over?

Alec was on the phone, Rose trying to stop him.

"Please Alec, just leave it."

"No," he said, covering the phone while someone on the other end was relaying his message to get two uniforms around the corner from the station and move the person who was playing with their phone on from the shelter.

"She's been there long enough to see us dancing and kissing."

"We should really have pulled the curtains over," Rose said quietly, watching across the road and seeing two uniformed officers approach the shelter and someone get up.

"Are you even sure it's her?"

"Yes love, who else would it be? Do you have any other stalkers I should be aware of?"

"How would I know? I wasn't even aware Claire was a stalker, not until she went all creepy on me."

"Well she will think twice before sitting and watching us again but the times we see each other, it will be safer to come to my place."

"If you think so Alec."

Two uniformed officers had been caught on their way out by the already harassed desk sergeant who certainly didn't need one grumpy DI Hardy on the phone at this time of night when all he wanted after the last few weeks was a quiet night for a change. Then Hardy had phoned in saying someone was watching his girlfriend's apartment when he wasn't even aware the disagreeable detective even had a girlfriend and felt sorry for whoever she was after DS Miller constantly complained on her way out that he kept her working late, well except for tonight and last night.

Alec was waiting for news as the two officers, one male and one female approached the figure huddled in the shelter, half facing Rose's apartment. Claire looked up with a start and shoved her phone in her pocket and got up, pretending she was leaving.

"Excuse me Miss," the female officer said as Claire looked at the two of them, hoping she could make a dash and catch the last bus in twenty minutes, if it wasn't early.

"Is there something wrong officer?" Claire asked innocently.

"You will have to move on, you can't stay there all night. Do you have somewhere to stay?"

"I'm not a tramp if that's what you're inferring?" Claire huffed.

"My colleague never inferred you were Miss but you can't stay there," the male officer told her.

"Had a complaint have you?" Claire half smirked, knowing full well Alec would have just got the uniformed officers to do his dirty work for him when he wouldn't face her personally.

"It has no bearing on us asking you to move on. Now have you somewhere to go?" the female officer asked her again.

Claire nodded. "I have a bus to catch in ten minutes and if I miss it, then you'll just have to lock me up for the night, I've no money for a taxi," she lied.

Well why should she pay for a taxi when they were delaying her catching the last bus to Dorchester?

"Then we will accompany you to the bus stop, after you," the male officer told her, gesturing her to walk in front of them.

Alec was watching from the window and saw them disappear around the corner then he took hold of Rose, thanking the desk sergeant who almost fainted due to getting the grumpy detective to thank him.

"She's gone love, relax."

Rose let out the breath she wasn't aware she'd been holding in. She put her arms around him and leaned into his shoulder.

"I can't do this Alec, she's freaking me out. I was scared of nothing, not Cybermen, Daleks, gas-masked zombies or werewolves."

Alec raised his eyebrows, she had never mentioned zombies or werewolves before and was now looking forward to hearing about them, once he had calmed her down and helped her get over this.