The enquiry had been adjourned for a while for refreshments as the brigadier had to stop an argument between Yvonne and Pete when he'd gone on about her last statement.
"I do not let them keep coming here Yvonne," Pete had defended himself. "If they find themselves here through no fault of their own, what do you expect Torchwood to do about it? You know those that can go home do so with encouragement from us and the use of our technology."
"Yes but you do nothing to get those back who don't seem to want to go," Yvonne argued back.
"That's what the cannon project was for Yvonne, for those who said they came from other worlds like ours."
"Well you're not doing much about it from what I heard," Yvonne scoffed back.
"We have to make sure it's viable," Pete told her.
What he wasn't telling was the fact they had stopped working on it until it was established Yvonne wasn't going to be in charge of it and Jake had plans in case she did win. Yvonne was getting dangerous in her dealings with their alien visitors, who knew what she was likely to do?
"I think we all need a break Mr Tyler," the brigadier decided.
Ian got up to get the poor secretary back in and went up to Pete.
"Sorry I can't say too much Pete," Ian told him. "Yvonne seems determined I'm here just to observe but I wanted you to know, I'm resigning if she wins this."
"I understand Ian and thanks for getting The Brigadier in for this, we might stand more of a chance with him."
"Well Yvonne didn't seem too keen to see him here."
Yvonne was at the far end of the room trying to find out if Rose and Hardy had been found.
"No Director, nothing yet," her secretary told her.
"Well let me know if DS Miller decides to return my call."
Ellie had taken Alec's advice and got someone to call Torchwood back to say she was too busy. Alec was right, she shouldn't have let herself get involved with this but she was and she was damned if Yvonne Hartman was going to get her hands on Rose. Rose and Alec were sat in the car, Alec messing with the satnav. Rose put her hand on his.
"Maybe we should just head for Bristol?" she asked.
He looked up from the display. "Maybe? We still have half an hour on the parking, how long is that enquiry going to take?"
"Pete won't give up without a fight Alec, he'll use that clause if he has to, the board know about it even if they never agreed to it."
"Even if it puts your mother and Tony in danger?"
He looked around and saw someone driving around looking for a parking space had stopped to see if they were leaving so he just shook his head and the man drove off, probably cursing, not that Alec actually cared at this present moment. He knew he could get a call at any moment to say which way things had gone.
"He'll make a deal if he has to, that they get kept out of it. We still can't go back though, we can go back to pack then we'll have to move somewhere else."
"Just when I get my job back. Well, I will find something else to do, maybe go into teaching?"
"History or physics?" Rose managed to smile.
"I think I had enough of history, being back in 1913 for three months. I said I had something to tell you."
"You mean about Martha looking after you?"
"There was a nurse there, well a matron, we almost got involved."
"You didn't though?"
"No, I changed back and she didn't like me very much for doing so. There's something else, we all went to this planet, Messaline, me, Donna and Martha and they used these sort of looming machines, a bit like the Timelords used to have and well, they took a tissue sample from me, well from my twin and they used it, to create someone."
"Wow, that means you became a father doesn't it?"
"Yes, it was different from when I was created I suppose or is it? I grew out of his spare hand, that machine stole a tissue sample and reproduced a fully grown woman out of it. Donna reckoned she was my daughter but I'm not so sure what it made her."
"Then where is she Alec?"
"She died, saving me. That's what people tend to do, sacrifice themselves for me when I never really ask them to. Now you know why my twin was keen for me to stay here when I suggested there might be a way."
Rose reached for his hand. "He sent you back to me Alec, for that, I can never thank him."
"I'm sorry I waited so long Rose."
"It's okay, you're with me now and I put you in danger."
"Yvonne would have tried to find out about me eventually. There's only her to blame."
"What was her name Alec?"
"Donna came up with Jenny, Donna said she was a generated anomaly which she was I suppose? She had two hearts but it wasn't enough to save her."
"I'm sorry Alec. Let's just set off, there are people looking for spaces."
"I wish you'd have been with me Rose, that was the worse day of my lives when Pete grabbed hold of you and brought you here."
"How do ya think I felt Alec? Let's just go."
Back at Torchwood, the enquiry had resumed but the brigadier knew no-one was going to win this without his intervention so just after eleven thirty, he stopped Yvonne as she was arguing the Cybermen could use the cannon to come back.
"I'm sure that is not what it's intended for Miss Hartman," the brigadier told her. "What did Mr Tyler mean about testing it, is it actually working?"
"No Sir, it's not working and if it were to start, safeguards would be put in place to stop anyone using it from this end or wherever it leads to," Pete replied.
"So you don't actually know where anyone would end up?" the brigadier asked Pete.
"It measures different timelines, events and we can deduce if a world has been invaded and shut it down immediately before the Cybermen can take advantage of it. As for knowing exactly where the co-ordinates would lead, we've no way of knowing exactly what world it would be."
"So how can you claim you want to send people back who say they come from another world?" Yvonne wanted to know.
"We would get certain facts from them and see from the readings we get what matches there are. Every world would be different, different historical events and developed in different ways. We would feed all the information from our visitors into it and see who can be sent back, after proper testing."
"Well I am satisfied there is no danger from the Cybermen coming back Miss Hartman," the brigadier informed her. Then he scratched his head. "Oh, I get it now Miss Hartman. Sending your people through to clarify a particular timeline could have it's advantages?"
"I don't know what you mean Brigadier," Yvonne claimed.
Pete knew she was now going to come unstuck. "Come off it Yvonne, even the brigadier can see where you're going with this. You want to take advantage and see what you can get out of unsuspecting worlds."
"Is that true Yvonne?" Ian asked her.
She knew she'd been found out but that wasn't her only intention. She had thought recently it was viable the Cybermen had taken prisoners with them who had not been converted, to show wherever they went to that it was possible to become like them without actually becoming one. Maybe her cousin had been one of those captured and forced to go with the Cybermen and Alec Hardy was just a detective but Rose was definitely not from this world, the way she was hiding.
When she didn't answer, Ian got up. "Yvonne, answer the question because if you don't, I will assume Pete's right and I'll have to call the board together to discuss your future. Is it true you want to use the cannon for your own ends?"
"Pete obviously does, he wants to find the one Rose came from and send her back and if a few lucky visitors get back at the same time, hooray for them."
"That's not all though is it Yvonne?" Pete asked her. "What are you going to do with all those who can't get home?"
"Yes Yvonne, I'm sure the board would also want to know that. If you intend locking them up, then we will have more problems than we can deal with. Brigadier, you can see where this is going?" Ian asked him.
"Yes indeed and it seems to me that Miss Hartman is the one you should be worried about. This thing about Miss Tyler was just a ruse, wasn't it Miss Hartman?"
"Not exactly, you see I think Rose came from the world the Cybermen went to."
"So you think as the Cybermen invaded her world, she just used the way they'd got there and got lucky?" Pete asked her.
"You know more than you're letting on Pete, you helped her get here, didn't you?" Yvonne wanted to know.
"How could I have done Yvonne?"
"Yes Miss Hartman, how could he have done?" the brigadier asked her.
"Easy, the night of the Cybermen attack, you went missing for several hours with two people who look suspiciously like Rose and this Alec Hardy."
"You thought it was your cousin Yvonne, you've changed your tune," Ian told her.
"I came to my senses and realised my cousin wouldn't have got involved let alone pose as a waiter but what did Alec Hardy do before he went into the police?"
Pete thought if only she knew. "So now you're convinced it was those two?" Pete asked her.
The brigadier was listening with interest. "That does not alter the fact you want to use this cannon device for your own purposes Miss Hartman and I'm here to determine the future of Torchwood. It seems to me that Miss Tyler and Detective Inspector Hardy being present on the night the Cybermen invaded is immaterial. If no proof can be presented that Miss Tyler does not belong on this world and Hardy is not your cousin, the only thing that matters is who has control over Torchwood."
"That's where you come in Sir," Ian reminded them. "They've both presented their arguments and the board has already agreed to go with your ruling Brigadier. Now Yvonne's true motives have come to light, which she's not denying, then her being given free reign to go ahead needs a rethink of the board. She only got put in temporary charge since she was calling Pete's ideas of running things into question."
"Yes indeed," the brigadier supported him. "I think the board should indeed go over their decision to put Miss Hartman in charge permanently. Miss Hartman, it seems you have some ulterior motives for wanting Mr Tyler and his adopted daughter out of your way. However, making these unsupported accusations against them does nothing to add to the credibility."
"Well I would have had proof had Pete not kept any secrets," Yvonne huffed, knowing she was losing this.
"Still Miss Hartman, you also have no proof that Mr Tyler is hiding anything, least of all Miss Tyler." He turned to Ian. "I suggest you get the board to convene this afternoon and inform them I recommend that until such times Miss Hartman can get concrete proof of her accusations that she be removed from the position of temporary director. Whether you want to remove her as assistant director is down to the board to decide."
"Thank you Sir, I'll inform the other board members," Ian told him. "Meanwhile Yvonne, as the representative of the board, you are hereby relieved of your duties and on immediate suspension while the board discusses the situation."
"You can't do that Ian," Yvonne protested.
"Yes, I can actually, the board said they would trust my judgement on any outcome of this farce of an enquiry you forced to take place. Pete, will you join us in the boardroom, say at two?"
"Yes, I'll be there and Yvonne, clear your things out of my old office."
"You've not won yet Pete, trust me," Yvonne told him.
"Yvonne, it's over and you are out of here when the board gets the brigadier's recommendations," Ian interrupted her. "Sir, may I tell the board?"
"Yes, that's what I just said. I'm very disappointed Miss Hartman, I would have thought you would have made sure you had hard evidence before it came to an actual enquiry. I can see why Miss Tyler went into hiding when you have been making things difficult for her."
Pete had sent a message to Jake to have Yvonne escorted from the building when she had cleared her office under guard.
Jake had sent a message back just saying 'with pleasure'.
The brigadier got up to leave when Jake arrived with another of his security team.
"Take the brigadier to the car park Chrissie, I'll escort Yvonne personally to get her things."
Chrissie nodded and waited for the brigadier, who was talking to Pete.
"Sorry we had to drag you into this Sir," Pete was telling him.
"Yes, well it got me out for the morning but power struggles are not really my thing, unless of course aliens are the ones trying to take power. Give my best wishes to your wife will you?"
"Of course Sir, thank you."
"So, where is your adopted daughter, down on the Dorset coast with the detective?"
"Somewhere, I'm not exactly sure where they are now. I was only trying to protect her, Yvonne seemed to have it in for her."
"Well if you ask me Mr Tyler, Miss Hartman seems a little too power hungry for my personal liking. It seems to me losing her cousin affected her mentally and she was out for any kind of revenge she could find. Did I tell you I almost lost my own daughter that night?"
"No Sir, I don't believe you did. Perhaps you could tell me about it sometime?"
The brigadier smiled. "Since Miss Hartman is on her way out, just between me and you, was your adopted daughter at your place that night?"
"Ah, that would be telling Sir but it wasn't Alec Hardy or Yvonne's cousin who was there with whom Yvonne thought was Rose."
"So it was a case of mistaken identity then?"
"Yes Sir, Yvonne just couldn't accept she was wrong, it was consuming her."
"Then I trust she'll be taken care of? I've heard what Torchwood can do to those who are asked to leave under certain circumstances?" the brigadier smiled, looking at the waiting Chrissie.
"Indeed Sir, it will be taken care of."
Ian had already left to round up the other board members and to arrange a hastily convened meeting. Jake had left with Yvonne and another security team member whom he'd called to join him. Pete took the opportunity to call Alec but since he was driving, Rose beat him to putting the handsfree on through the radio speaker.
"Dad?" she asked at seeing 'Pete' on the screen.
"Yes Rose, it's all over - Yvonne's as good as out, pending my reinstatement. It's just a formality, Ian's talking to the board right now."
"That's good news Pete," Alec told him as he pressed the button anyway.
"Can we make our way back to Broadchurch then?" Rose asked Pete as Alec pulled the car into a lay-by.
"Yes, Jake said the three men she sent for you have disappeared and besides, they have no authority now. You can go home Rose."
Alec stopped where he was after Pete said he was just staying to attend a board meeting, where he hoped to get the director's job back. Despite them being in full view, Alec took his seatbelt off and turned to Rose.
"We can go home now, no more hiding."
"Yeah, we should call Ellie and tell her. Can we go back to London as well?"
"We can go at the weekend and now, we can look for somewhere to live, if you want to stay in Broadchurch?"
"I like it there, even though I've had to pretend to be your girlfriend."
"You did not like pretending to be my girlfriend?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'd rather be your real girlfriend Alec."
They made their way back to Broadchurch, calling for a few groceries and Rose invited Ellie to call round after work.
"So it's all over?" Ellie asked as Alec made some tea. "What did she hope to gain from it all?"
"To get Rose to admit she does not belong here," Alec replied.
"Does she?" Ellie teased.
"I'm here Ellie," Rose joked. "You deserve to know the truth Ellie, you helped us. I come from where the Cybermen escaped to. Pete and some friends came to warn us but it all got out of hand because there's a three year difference between the two worlds. When I got here, I found myself three years older."
"What about Jackie Tyler?" Ellie asked.
"What about her? It's a very long story Ellie that I can't tell you, Pete went to a lot of trouble and it almost got us into a mess."
"I understand, I'm just glad you two aren't hiding any longer. So were you really together before all this?"
"Rose and I knew each other before, that's all you need to know," Alec told her.
When Ellie had left, Alec wanted them to go out to celebrate but Rose just wanted to sit outside the camp bar. As it was getting dark, he led her across to the harbour and sat her down at the end of the stone pier.
"Rose, now this is all over, we have some decisions to make."
"You mean about where we live and if you're still gonna be Alec Hardy?"
"Yes, amongst other things. I meant it Rose, I could go into teaching, change my name."
"No, this is what you do Alec, you help people and teaching's good but you make a great detective."
"Do I? I suppose I was just unlucky getting two murder investigations?" he smiled.
"Yeah, trust you."
"So, I stay as Alec Hardy then? You like my accent?"
"I love your accent, you do it much better than the other you."
"What about my name?" he asked, touching her cheek gently with his finger.
"I like it. It's better than James McCrimmon."
Alec smiled. "Then how do you feel about sharing it? Marry me Rose."