Rose listened while Steve told her why he'd gone over to Yvonne's side. He'd decided whatever he found on the media card that Yvonne had just held him to ransom over, he should have gone to Pete in the first place and got the information.
"So she did use you, she kept you hanging on to find out about that night? Didn't you realise what she was doing?" Rose asked him as they ordered some food and moved to a corner booth.
"I was so angry Rose, I thought it had all been Pete's fault but I've only read part of it and Yvonne said the media card contained images of my father going into the house and some of him talking to Pete."
"Pete said he didn't realise who you were but there again, it was a long time ago and he told me he didn't know your dad all that well. It was all so secretive back then and Pete was only a secret backer."
"I realise that now. How can I apologise to him?" Steve asked her.
"He wants you to stop spying for Yvonne."
"That won't be easy Rose, she won't let me off the hook that easily. She'll expect me to still play her game, especially now she's given me the information I wanted. She told me if I can't decide how I feel it about it, I'm out permanently, she'll have no use for me. If I tell her I want nothing to do with you and Pete, she'll have someone watch me."
"Yeah, that wouldn't surprise me. She's already sent someone after Mickey. I think he might go along with it."
"You mean Martha? Yeah, I thought she would do that. That only leaves Jake and Yvonne knows he's the key to all this, she knows it will take drastic measures to turn him. She thought you'd be difficult as well."
"I am, I can't let my personal feelings get in the way though."
"You've been stringing me along then?" Steve tried to smile as their food arrived.
"Sorry Steve, I had no choice but we can be friends? Now tell me about the security breach?"
"No, I should face Pete myself and ask for his forgiveness for turning on him. I can't ask you to do it. Let me take you home after this and I'll tell him face to face."
"Okay then, he'll listen to ya. I'm really sorry, about leading you on."
"Yeah, so am I, I really like you Rose, before the Christmas party but Mickey was always hanging around."
"He tends to do that. When we broke up, I fancied someone, not from work but Mickey tried to get in the way. That's why I never seemed to have a boyfriend."
"Maybe when all this is over? I'd like to still be friends though?" Steve offered.
"Yeah, I can do that. Look Steve, I'm sorry about what happened to your dad but from what Pete told me, Lumic sent those metal monsters to kill everyone that night. Pete was lucky to get out and you've no idea what it was like for him when he couldn't rescue his wife. He doesn't talk about it much, so as not to upset her but you've seen she's come a long way since she was found."
"She seems to like you anyway, well from what I saw at lunch. You have your differences though?"
"Doesn't every family?" Rose smiled.
"I had to go home to help my mother. She was frantic when he didn't come home."
"I was the same when my mum went missing. We got separated while we were out, people running around everywhere. It took me ages to get home, there were roadblocks and everything and then a few of us saw the Cybermen were pulling people out of their homes, those without earpods."
"I never wore them, we weren't allowed."
"I took mine out, I heard a buzzing in my ears and I hurt myself pulling them out. I think mum never had time. I don't want to talk about it."
"I understand Rose. I still have to watch what happened that night, Yvonne said it showed the president being killed."
That had never gone away, Rose could still see it clearly amongst the images of the others being 'deleted' that night. She couldn't even admit she was there.
"My mum was lucky, we lived just outside London then. We had to sell the house when he died," Steve continued.
"I had to get help. Let's change the subject?" Rose suggested.
Things were getting personal and she didn't like where this was going.
"So where's Pete sending you, before you go for training?" Steve asked her.
"Sure you won't go telling Yvonne?"
"Don't be like that Rose. I'm not going to give her any personal details."
"Sorry. I don't know, Pete won't say. I suppose if he told me he'd think I'd object but it'll be somewhere I can't get back on my own so easily."
"So you'd run away, if it was boring?" Steve smiled as they ate.
"Yeah, what do ya think? What you have to tell Pete, is it bad?"
"Bad enough but you know some of it, I gave you a clue."
"About there being images of that night?" Rose asked him.
Steve nodded. That did get Rose worried. If someone had recorded the events, it may show her and the Doctor being there. She wasn't supposed to have known Pete back then and she didn't want Yvonne questioning that or who was with her. Steve was right, they did have a problem.
They left the bar and Steve retrieved his car from the underground car park at the same time Jake was leaving.
"Late night Steve?" Jake asked him as he prepared to drive off since he'd left Rose inside the bar.
"Just collecting Rose, we went for a drink after work," Steve told him.
Pete had told him but Jake didn't let on.
"Just you make sure she gets home then," Jake warned him.
"I will, don't worry. Sometimes I think you get more jealous then Mickey does," Steve smiled.
"It's my job to look after her, I take it seriously," Jake replied.
Rose sent Pete a quick message to say Steve needed to talk to him urgently and Pete knew something was wrong. He'd already alerted Jake Rose had said Steve had something to discuss so Jake got another message as he let Steve go.
Rose saw Steve pull up from the bar window and went out, since it had been raining anyway and she'd only a thin jacket with her. Steve drove her home, trying not to get lost and they arrived without incident. Pete had been alerting Jackie.
"So if Steve's dad was here that night and he's found out, what do ya think he'll do?" Jackie asked him.
"I don't know but Rose seemed to think it was urgent he spoke to me. If Yvonne's already been digging up the past though? You and Rose are going to have to be very careful."
"We know that Pete. What if she got footage of that night? She'll notice I look different."
"No, no-one else who knew the other Jackie have realised anything different."
"Only because you don't let anyone close enough Pete. What about Rose though? If Yvonne finds out she was here that night?"
"Don't worry, I can cover that if I have to. Rose was only posing as a servant, I can claim I never even knew about it."
"That's all very well Pete but it puts Rose right in it. How does she explain it?" Jackie asked him.
"I won't just leave her to explain it Jackie, we'll come up with something. Maybe we'll tell the truth, that she wanted to see how we lived?"
"Yeah but it's a bit risky Pete, that would make it look like she went looking for me, to get back in?"
"Well we'll sort something else out. Best go see to Tony eh, before Rose gets back," Pete suggested.
"Where are ya sending her Pete? Will she be safe?" Jackie wanted to know.
"I already said she'll be safe love. I've got someone who's going to look after her very carefully."
Jackie went off to supervise Tony's bedtime and hoped Pete was right but if he wasn't sending Rose off with Mickey or Jake, just who was going to look after her? It must be someone else who Pete trusted. It didn't stop her from still worrying about her daughter's safety, should Yvonne discover the truth.
Rose led Steve inside and they went to Pete's study. Pete had very carefully got rid of all the evidence of what had happened in the house that night but if Yvonne had retrieved phones and cameras, that was beyond his control but how had she found out who'd been there that night? His first priority though was that neither Rose or the Doctor were on anything that had been recovered but had that been the case, Rose would have already been questioned over it.
He thought the only way Yvonne had got a list of who had been there that night was the security company he'd used, which had been taken over by Torchwood. That had to be it and he should have known Yvonne would find any excuse to bring up the past. If he'd known about Steve sooner, maybe none of this would have happened but he had thought he could trust both of them.
Rose knocked on his study door and he switched off the screen.
"So Steve, it seems like I owe you an explanation then?" Pete asked him.
"I know some of it, enough to know you couldn't have prevented what happened. Lumic got hold of your security arrangements that night, from someone within the house."
"I know that now. I only just realised who you were, I only knew your father from my dealings at the time with Torchwood, I'd no idea he had a family. I know there's nothing that can make up for not knowing. So, what did you have to tell me?"
Steve looked at Rose. "Just to say Yvonne somehow got hold of videos and pictures that were taken that night. I've not seen them yet, I've not had time and I'm not stupid enough to try to get the files out of the building."
"I know you're not but I need you to get a copy of them to me. You have Rose's email address? Send them securely to her, she'll get them to me. Why has Yvonne kept all this to herself? She could have gone to the board if she'd wanted."
"I don't know Mr Tyler but I only got the file this morning, I asked her months ago after she promised to find out what happened that night. I'm sorry I trusted her over you."
"That doesn't matter now Steve, at least you told me," Pete assured him.
"Is there something on those files that could cause trouble?" Steve asked, relieved he was off the hook.
"I'll know better when I've seen them but if Yvonne had enough, she wouldn't waste any more time. She's planning something bigger than we originally thought."
"We suspected that," Rose joined in. "I'm sorry Steve, I didn't want us to be on opposing sides."
"Neither did I Rose. What do you want me to do Mr Tyler?"
"Leave things as they are for the next day or so. Yvonne can't find out you came to me with this. I take it she'll still have a copy of what she gave you?"
"I would imagine so, she never said. She'll be asking me what I think about it. I have to decide if I still want to provide her with information."
"Yes, I expect she will," Pete told him. "Rose, I'll need your help."
"Whatever you want. Do ya want me and Steve to act like friends?" She asked Pete.
"Let it get back to Yvonne that you're making some progress with Rose Steve, at least for the next few days. Rose, tell anyone who asks you that you're considering taking up with Steve when you get back from your training. I'm going to jump the gun and say I expect good results from the preliminary tests of the cannon project and that I'm setting up the training for you and Jake."
"Yvonne won't be pleased," Rose smiled.
"I hope she isn't. Let her try and take it over before the results are in, which I will make sure are delayed."
"You're not expecting them to be good then?" Steve dared ask.
"I can't say at this time Steve, there may be factors that were overlooked before. Besides if I tell you anything, Yvonne may have her ways of getting it out of you, sorry."
"It's okay Mr Tyler, I don't expect you to fully trust me. I'll get those files to Rose first thing, before anyone comes into the office. Is there anything you want Yvonne to know?"
"No, not yet. I know those files are not going to be easy for you to watch Steve. How do you think you'll feel afterwards?"
"I honestly don't know. I was so mad before, that nothing was proved but I expect Torchwood got everything covered up, for their employees?"
"I wasn't part of it then but you're probably right. Did Torchwood make all the arrangements?" Pete asked Steve.
"I think so, I don't remember having to do much. We were never told where he was found, I expect they took over from the police?"
"I wasn't here, when I returned, the security company were assisting the police and securing the house. At that time I didn't know if anyone had escaped or not, I was trying to find out what happened to my wife."
"I can't blame you for that. Well I should be off, I've got a lot to think about. Rose, will you walk me out?"
Pete nodded to her. "Go ahead Rose, I think you can trust him now."
Rose walked to the door with him. "I'm sorry things didn't work out but you know why I have to step back?"
"Yes, you're going to be away in any case but I'd like to resume this, when you get back?"
"I don't even know when that will be Steve. Yvonne may take over while I'm away and there might be nothing to do when I get back. Something's going to give soon."
"I know and I'm glad we're back on the same side, at least outside work but maybe the next few days, we can look like we're thinking about it?"
Rose smiled. "Yeah, I can manage that. Night then, I'll wait for your email in the morning but don't let anyone see you."
"I won't. Goodnight Rose and I'm really sorry."
Rose went back to Pete's study.
"Something wrong?" Pete asked her.
"I was just worried, if there was something on those recordings."
"You mean you and the Doctor? We would have heard by now if Yvonne knew."
"Maybe she never looked at them?"
"She will have done, before she gave a copy to Steve. Just as a precaution, I want you to take Wednesday afternoon off, in case Yvonne decides to challenge me and haul you into her office."
"She wouldn't dare do that."
"Don't bet on it Rose, we don't know how far she's willing to go yet." Just then, Pete's phone buzzed. It was Alec. "Sorry, I have to take this."
"Sure, I'll go find mum then," Rose told him.
Pete waited until the door was closed and answered.
"Alec, I was about to call you."
"I was just letting you know I had to take a caravan, I hope Rose won't mind?"
"I'm sure she'll just be glad to get away. We've had some new developments. What are you doing about where you are now?"
"I will go give notice in the morning but I have to sort out payments with the personnel department."
"Don't be out of pocket Alec, just tell me what's needed. When are you moving?" he asked Alec.
"I pick the keys up tomorrow afternoon, then I will move across on Wednesday. What time will you be here on Thursday?"
"Getting anxious then?" Pete smiled to himself.
"Pete, I've been waiting a long time to see her again, my patience is wearing a little thin. Does she talk about me?"
"Sometimes, with her mother. It's all good things though, things you used to do together and Jackie will laugh at the time she slapped you, before you changed."
"I still remember that, it hurt. Have you given Rose any hints as to where you are taking her?"
"No and it's best I don't but we might have a problem. I just found out more footage of that night you and Rose were here may have come to light."
"When will you know for certain?" Alec wanted to know.
"I'll know tomorrow but if Yvonne had seen Rose on it, she'd have questioned it by now."
"Are you sure about that? Maybe she is saving it all up?" Alec suggested.
"I hope not. Anyway, we've got two people back on our side, well hopefully. It's a slow process even when they turn from us in a few seconds but it's a start."
"That it is. I'm going to need your help, convincing Rose to stay with me."
"She'll stay Alec, trust me."
"Even if she thinks you're playing a cruel trick on her?"
"You mean she'll think I've taken her to Broadchurch on purpose? She's seen you on TV Alec, she won't make anything out of it. She might object a little but that will soon blow over. It'll be down to you to convince her to stay."
"Well I had an idea, which is why I need your help. I want you to tell her the best way of not drawing any attention to herself is to go along with my plan that she's an old girlfriend I have recently met up with again."
"Really? Well it's not that far from the truth, is it? She might be willing to play the part, at least in public, the rest is up to you. Anything else?"
"Yes, I will need a car, unless you are having one sent down for her?"
"No, I don't want her driving around, I'll have one delivered to you on Wednesday, just send me the details where you want it dropped off. I'll put Rose's name down, just in case but I'll have to use a local firm through Vitex, I can't risk using the usual firm. I'll tell them to call you."
"Thanks. Just one more thing, do you think she will be upset with me, when she finds out?"
Pete had to smile. "Alec, she misses you. She may not talk about it but I see it all the time. She'll forgive you."
"She might forgive him but what about me?"
"Alec, it will make no difference to her, trust me. You're exactly what she needs right now, especially since I think things are going to start getting worse over the next few days. I'm not sure but I think I might bring her down on Wednesday night, when the traffic is lighter. If not it will be mid Thursday morning. We'll leave early and make a couple of stops and I'll text you our arrival time. Where's a good place to meet?"
"The café over on the harbour is about the best place. They know me in there and I can easily convince them I'm waiting for someone."
"Right, I'll find it."
"Just turn left at the mini roundabout when you reach the harbour, there's a big car park and you'll see the café. Pete, just keep her safe until you get her here."
"I will, you can trust me on this," Pete smiled to himself.
Alec saw the joke, remembering seeing the moving posters on his first visit here all those years ago. He went back to packing what he didn't need for the next few days. Now the time was approaching, he found himself more nervous than he'd been in all his past lives put together.