Rose was feeling sick, the press had somehow got hold of the fact she was now the star witness but she'd never talked to anyone. She heard the door opening and thought Alec really had a problem going where he shouldn't but it was Ellie.

"Rose, sweetheart, what's wrong?" Ellie asked, approaching Rose.

"Everything Ellie. All this talking we've done and now, it's just hit me," she cried.

Ellie went to put her arms around Rose. "Has Hardy been upsetting you?"

"What? No, nothing like that, just the opposite. No Ellie, it's all catching up with me, now the press know."

"They're just speculating Rose, they don't actually know anything. They want you and Hardy to confirm it. I bet Claire or her husband have been trying to stir things up. If it was Olly, he's no idea how much trouble he's going to be in. Just stay quiet when you leave and let Hardy do all the talking, he's used to this kind of thing."

"Yeah, I never said anything Ellie but what do I do now? They're gonna be watching, they already asked him if we're involved," Rose told her tearfully.

Ellie went to get some paper towels and handed them to the distraught Rose. "Well are you?" she asked, hoping no-one would come in but Hardy had probably already put a 'cleaning in progress' sign outside or he was standing guard. Now they were going to be late in again, that's if anything was going to happen in there.

Rose was guilty by her silence.

Ellie already knew the answer, Hardy had confirmed it before she'd gone after Rose. "Come on, take your mind of it for a while, we'll talk at lunchtime. Don't go wandering off on your own either Rose, it's not safe for you."

"I know that Ellie but I couldn't let everyone see me."

"I don't think anyone would have bothered. Come on or we'll be late, are you okay now?" Ellie asked as Rose dried her face.

"Yeah, give me two minutes."

"I'll wait outside Rose, I'll tell Hardy."

"Why do you both do that, use surnames?"

"He never wanted to go by first names, something to do with working with his ex and her betraying him, twice," Ellie called as Rose closed one of the cubicle doors.

"How do ya' mean twice? You mean she lost the evidence and played around with another male officer?" Rose called out.

"Yeah, I think so. He never really talked about it but he gave an interview to Olly after we finished the Latimer case."

Rose came out and washed her hands just as a knock came on the door. Ellie went to see if it was Alec.

"Come on Miller, we're being called in," he told her, looking for Rose.

"Keep your shirt on Hardy, we're coming," Ellie replied dryly.

Rose had to smile, yet more evidence the accusations were found-less. As if to defy everyone, Rose came out and took his arm. "Sorry Alec, I was a bit upset. It just hit me that you're depending on me to put Lee and maybe Claire away," she told him as they walked to the courtroom.

"It's fine Rose, no need to explain. Maybe you feel like that but we also have other witnesses who never came forward, we need to visit a few people when we go back to Sandbrook. Miller, you are joining us tomorrow?" Alec asked Ellie.

"Since you insisted and I talked Lucy into having Fred, which wasn't easy, trust me. I have some of those files in the car."

"Then you'd better hope no-one breaks in and takes them," Alec warned her as he went first and sat at the side of the defendant.

Rose went next, followed by Ellie, as if others in the room had expected them to sit there. They waited for the judge, then the defense called another witness, just when everyone wanted to get it over with but were shocked when Ellie was called as a hostile witness.

Alec couldn't believe what he was hearing – that Ellie was accused of bribing her sister for a statement. He went crazy when a recess was called.

"What were you playing at Miller?" he asked angrily as he put drinks on the table.

"We were running out of time, well you were. How did they find out?" Ellie wanted to know.

"Seems like they're getting desperate now," Rose mused, drinking her tea.

"You don't say Rose," Alec grinned, almost calling her 'love' but managing to correct the oversight.

They went back in and finally, the prosecution began giving their closing statement, Alec hoping they would cast enough doubt on the defense's ludicrous fairy stories of jealousy and non-existent affairs, well apart from Mark and Becca's little 'fling'.

The judge called for a lunch break so Rose and Alec went outside, Rose making sure Alec didn't need his pills.

"I'm fine love, really," he assured her, remembering how to tackle the sandwich carton, which made Rose smile.

"Yeah? You didn't need the worry of me running off earlier – sorry Alec."

"You were upset and I did not want to get a reputation of going into the ladies room," he grinned.

"Yeah, wouldn't want you getting embarrassed again. Ellie said to leave the press to you so I will but how did they get on to it?"

"I have no idea but its pure speculation, someone may have seen what happened the other day and recognized Ashworth. Just leave it Rose, they'll find something else to write about."

"I hope you're right Alec, we don't need this. Is that officer walking towards us?"

It was Bob from the station. "DI Hardy, Sir, a word please," Bob asked, looking at Rose. "Can we talk privately?"

"You can talk in front of my girlfriend, what's this about?" Alec wanted to know.

"I need you to come with me Sir, there's been a complaint made against you."

"What complaint?" Rose asked.

"I can't discuss it here Miss. I'll wait until court finished for the day, then you'll have to come with me Sir, to answer a few questions."

"For goodness sake, just ask them now and get it over with," Alec sighed.

"Alec, calm down or you'll need your pills," Rose warned him. "As for you, haven't you got anything else to do than harass him when he's ill?" she asked Bob.

"Now Miss, there's no need to be rude," Bob told her sternly. "A complaint has been lodged, it's him talking to me or he talks to internal affairs."

"Fine, after court finishes but we have to be somewhere so you will have to make it fast," Alec told him.

Bob nodded and went off.

"What's all that about?" Rose wanted to know.

""Probably Ashworth, since he failed to get to you the other day. Rose, be very careful, he's going to make another attempt to get to you, he's trying to get me out of the way. Come on, we have to go find Miller, she will have to stay with you and I want you to go with her after court and drive over to see Tess, you'll be safe enough there."

"I'm not going without you Alec, forget about it," Rose told him, seeing Ellie walk towards them.

"What did Bob want?" Ellie asked Alec, who looked nervous.

"To ask me some questions but I know it's Ashworth, trying to get me out of the way so you take Rose to see Tess, Rose knows where to go. Promise me Miller."

"Okay, fine, I'll do that but why would Ashworth send someone after you?"

"How do I know Miller?" Alec asked, putting the paper cup and the carton in the litter bin.

"Ellie, Lee's trying to get to me again, I know he is," Rose panicked.

"Calm down Rose, you're safe enough with me. Whose car did you come in?" Ellie asked, thinking Hardy shouldn't even be driving in his state.

"Mine, I didn't want Alec driving all day. I'll have to let him though now. Will you be alright Alec?"

Alec didn't look very good but nodded. He got his pills out of his pocket and Rose got a small bottle of water out of her shoulder bag.

"Stay there Alec, just rest for a while," she told him. "Ellie, you go ahead, we'll stay here."

"Under protest then, I'll be out as soon as I can. Do you need any help?" Ellie asked.

"No Miller, I'll be fine when these pills kick in," he insisted. "If I am being taken to the station, I will send someone for Rose's car, give me the keys love. You still go with Miller."

"I'm going nowhere until I know you're okay Alec, so forget it," Rose insisted.

Ellie went off, amused he was now calling Rose 'love' and wondered what they'd been up to yesterday, they must surely now be sleeping together, well sleeping and whatever Hardy could muster up in his current condition.

Five minutes later, Alec was looking a little less pale.

"You had me worried again Alec," Rose admitted, holding his hand.

"It won't be the last time I'm afraid Rose, I can only get worse without that surgery but I just have to get over the weekend and if I tell the consultant I've had two more attacks, I may be kept in."

"Yeah but will you stay in Alec?" Rose wanted to know, keeping a look-out for an old white van but seeing none. If Lee was going to come after her again, he'd arrive later and watch for Alec being driven off in a police car, then he'd swoop in and think she'd come in Alec's car and be needing a ride back. Well, he was in for a big shock, which was why she'd insisted they took her car and Ellie was well prepared for the worse.