Tess stopped as Dave headed for the bar.
"Dave, I need to go back for something," Tess didn't want to say what in the crowded pub.
"Leave it Tess, who's going to notice?" he replied, wanting to get a few drinks down her then go park the car somewhere.
Hardy was off his head walking away, he thought. Tess was far more willing than his own wife was these days. Maybe she just wanted a change?
Claire checked no-one was around, pulled the hood over on her coat and grabbed a brick that just happened to be lying around. She carefully avoided the broken glass, grabbed the bag and pulled out the plastic evidence bag and then thinking about opening the bag again, found a few notes and took them then ran out onto the road.
She smiled to herself. How could the woman be so careless? She stuffed the evidence bag into her pocket and made her way back to her friend's. The bag only contained the locket she had given to Pippa as a present, the one that had been given to her by her grandmother before she'd been driven out of her home town.
When Alec got back, he made something to eat then called the station.
"Has that evidence from the car Lee Ashworth sold been logged?" he asked the desk sergeant.
"Err, sorry Sir, what evidence?" Alec was asked, the desk sergeant asking a junior officer, who just looked at him.
"Don't mess with me, I'm not in the mood," Alec warned the man. "The evidence that DS Henchard and DS Harris should have brought back an hour or so ago. It had better have been handed in."
He could hear a phone ringing in the background and hoped for Tess's sake it wasn't her phoning to say she was only just on her way back with it, heads would roll in the morning.
The other officer went to answer, hearing Tess shouting down the phone to get a forensic team out to where she was, at the Black Swan pub on West Street, plus someone to fix the car window, since it wasn't her car.
"Sarge, DS Henchard's on the phone," the young officer held the receiver out to the older man.
"Well, what's holding her up?" he asked as he forgot about Alec, who could just about hear. "Where the hell is she? Hardy's wanting to know."
"Sarge, she says her car window's been smashed," the WPC dared tell him.
The sergeant knew Alec was going to go crazy.
"Sir, I've found out where she is, she's been delayed," he started to tell him.
"Well? What's her excuse?" Alec asked, knowing she'd try to cover up she'd been with that rat Harris.
"Sir, you really don't want to know," he was told. "Apparently she stopped and the car was broken into. DS Harris is with her."
Alec swore under his breath. How could they both be so stupid?
"Where are they?" Alec then asked. "Get someone out to them, no-one is to touch the car until forensics get there and then take it back to HQ. Get them to bring the evidence bag back and get a statement."
"Yes Sir," the sergeant replied, thinking so much for a quiet night.
"Tell them both to stay until I get there," Alec then added, not that he wanted to go but the chief would ask him why he'd not attended.
The sergeant took the phone from the young officer after relaying what Alec had told him. While Tess was waiting, Dave was leaning on the roof of the car.
"Dave, don't be stupid and put any more fingerprints on the car," she warned him.
"What are you waiting for?" Dave wanted to know, leaning back on the wall and going for a cigarette.
"Who do you think?" Tess hissed, covering her phone. "The sergeant will have called Alec. We'd better come up with a good reason for being here."
"Just say you needed to powder your nose," Dave laughed.
"Now you are being stupid," Tess told him. "We've been over an hour Dave."
"We could have been making out on the back seat by now," Dave grinned, puffing out cigarette smoke.
"Do you have to do that?" she asked, waving the smoke away. "Well we've lost the chance now," she nodded to where a marked police car was just entering the car park, followed by a black forensics van.
"Alec's not messing around, is he?" Dave joked.
"DS Henchard?" a man in a white coverall approached her. "We'll take fingerprints and have the car taken back to HQ. May I take the evidence bag you were carrying?"
Tess hadn't even bothered looking at the bag that was on the passenger seat.
"Was that bag open when you left it?" Dave whispered to her as someone wearing gloves opened the door for her.
"Ma'am, the bag's open," she was told. "We were told to collect an evidence bag, do you have it on you?"
"No, it was in there," Tess stared at the empty bag and all the pieces of glass on the seat. "There was some money in it as well."
"Alec's not going to be pleased," Dave warned her.
"Shut up Dave," Tess snapped back at him. "It's his own fault anyway."
"That's a laugh Tess," Dave spluttered. "He heard me say I'd make sure you'd take it back, you had to get your car. He won't have forgotten. You got me involved in this as well."
"I'm the one who'll get the blame," Tess reminded him. "You always think of yourself Dave."
Dave shook his head and pulled her back.
"You'd better hope you get away with it Tess," he told her as he saw Alec's car.
Alec had been annoyed that he'd had to go out again and hoped for Tess's sake Daisy was at her grandmother's or there would be more trouble. He saw Tess and Dave and two of the forensics team around the car Tess used for work and another taking photos.
People were coming out of the bar and two officers were making sure they didn't get in the way as Alec joined the others.
"Right, what's the damage?" he wanted to know, looking at Tess then Dave. "What were you two playing at?"
"Alec, I'm not answering any questions here," Tess told him.
"Well you have to give a statement to the officers before you can leave," he reminded her. "Have you handed the evidence over yet?"
The forensics team leader looked at him.
"Sir? There's no evidence bag, the handbag on the seat is empty."
Tess wanted to call him a tell-tale.
"Is that not your work bag Tess?" Alec asked her.
"You know it is," she replied, wanting to tell him not to be so smug.
"Well, is it in your personal one?" he pointed to the one under her arm.
She wanted to pretend it was but he'd find out sooner or later and so would everyone else.
"No, whoever broke in must have taken it, along with some money that was in it," she told him calmly.
"I hope that's your idea of a joke?" Alec asked, knowing how sarcastic she could be, especially now.
"She's not joking Hardy," Dave spoke up.
"You were equally responsible for it Harris," Alec reminded him. "Your exact words were that you would make sure it got back to HQ."
"Oh lighten up Hardy," Dave replied. "It could have been kids seeing us go inside."
"Why pick on this car?" Alec wanted to know. "How did they know what was inside the handbag? That's it now, we have lost the proof the girl was in Ashworth's car that night, thanks to you two stopping for a drink. You should have waited until you had handed the evidence in. Whose idea was it to stop?"
Neither of them answered so Alec got annoyed.
"Report to the chief's office first thing tomorrow morning, you can give your excuses to him. You are both equally responsible," Alec reminded them. "Don't think I am covering for you Tess."
"What if it gets out Alec? Do you want Daisy to know?" Tess asked him.
"Don't blackmail me over that Tess," Alec warned her. "She knows we no longer live together, you chose to hide the fact you were seeing someone else. You had better call her to say you will be late collecting her. I doubt we can make the charges against Ashworth stick now, as soon as his solicitor hears, he will file for dismissal."
"I don't need reminding of that Alec," Tess told him as a tow truck arrived.
Alec drove back to his apartment in an even worse mood. What was keeping him here? Daisy hardly spoke to him any more, he and Tess argued all the time and most of the station laughed at the news he'd just had it confirmed she was seeing Harris outside of work. It was time for a change, anywhere away from here.
Rose had been lying on John's bed watching a big screen TV that had been brought in, though he was falling asleep. She waited for a nurse coming in to do the last checks of the night and make sure he was getting enough oxygen then she kissed his cheek.
"Night John. Now you're here, you're in good hands," she tried to assure him.
"I know that love," he replied, taking her hand. "Find out tomorrow how they're getting on with the cannon, will you? Promise me Rose?"
"Yeah, I will, I promise but I don't think I should be the one to go," she told him.
"Yes, you are. Who else could go?" he asked, leaning back on the pillows.
Rose could see the toll it was taking on him, even sitting up with the pillows.
"Jake could go, The Doctor knows him," Rose suggested.
"No Rose, it has to be you, he would do anything for you," John still insisted.
"You need your sleep John," Rose smiled at him as he closed his eyes.
She knew he was fighting to stay awake.
"Ya have to give in," she reminded him. "The slightest problem and the medical team will be in here, you're being monitored."
She knew now that would be the only way she herself would get any sleep. She kissed his forehead, which felt all clammy and got into the bed just at the side of him. She had wanted it right next to him but Owen had said they needed to get access to John in an emergency and Rose had to agree.
"Night John," she called as she lay down.
He didn't answer but she could hear the monitors beeping away even though they'd been turned to the lowest setting but she didn't mind, it meant he was still fighting whatever was wrong with him. As she tried to get to sleep, she had tears in her eyes, John was on heavy painkillers and she had no idea what he was going through apart from he was tired all the time and he was now confined to bed.
If only she could contact The Doctor without leaving? Then she thought why not? If she kept trying, he might be orbiting a nebular like the last time and she'd be able to get through to him, maybe with a little help. It cheered her up and she fell asleep with more hope than she could remember having for a long time.
As soon as she woke up, she checked on John, who was still sleeping so she put her robe on and went to make a drink, getting her phone ready to call Jake.
"You're awake early Rose," Jake laughed.
"Can ya come down?" she asked him. "I've got an idea, for contacting The Doctor."
"Rosie, we've been through this," Jake tried to tell her.
"Ya don't understand," Rose told him. "All we have to do is broadcast a signal he'll understand through the gap we make and wait for him sending one back."
"What if he's out in space?" Jake wanted to know.
"He's more likely to hear it in space," Rose replied, sounding pleased with herself Jake thought. "Then, he can land on Earth and we know where to aim the cannon."
"Did John tell ya that?" Jake laughed.
"Nope, he's still asleep. Jake, he's getting even weaker, I know he is. What the hell is doing this to him?" Rose asked.
"I wish I knew, honestly. We'd all do anything to find out. I'll talk to Pete, see what he thinks and we'll come down. Don't say anything to John just yet," Jake advised her.
"I gotta go, I need coffee," Rose laughed as she saw John moving.
She went over to him just as Martha came in, Rose wishing she'd stay away.
"Good morning John, how are you today?" Martha asked him, taking his hand to check his pulse.
Rose felt like slapping her hand away. Why had Owen picked her of all people? John pulled a face when Martha took the oxygen mask off.
"I see you've been doing without it during the day," Martha told him.
"Martha he needs the tube just in case," Rose reminded her. "Don't take that away as well."
"I wasn't going to," Martha snapped.
"Will you two stop it," Owen called from the doorway.
"Well get someone else to look after him, I don't want her here," Rose told him. "Can't you see she makes him uncomfortable?"
"Rose, it's fine," John tried to tell her.
"No, it's not fine, you need to be kept calm all of the time," Rose turned to him to help him put the oxygen tube in his nose. "She's a constant reminder."
"What did she do to you in the other universe?" Owen then laughed.
"It was what she did to John's twin," Rose replied. "Owen, please get someone else in."
Owen held his hands up.
"Okay, you win but you'll have to put up with her today," he laughed. "I'll have to bring someone else up to date with John's case and fill them in on his details. I need your stepfather's permission to go into more details."
"I'll make sure ya get it," Rose agreed. "I have an idea, to contact The Doctor."
"Were you going to tell me?" John asked her, trying to smile as a nurse made him comfortable.
"Yeah, when Jake gets here," Rose promised. "Where's breakfast?"
"On it's way, it's a new order," Owen laughed. "Sorry John, only a light breakfast for you."
"Did ya tell them who it was for?" Rose asked.
"The Queen of Sheba," Martha muttered under her breath.
Rose made a face at her and went off to make herself a drink, since she couldn't get to where her clothes were.
"Stop it Martha," Owen warned her again. "Or you'll be out of a job by lunchtime."
"Is that a threat Owen?" she dared ask.
"If the director finds out," he replied. "Now, I have to bring Doctor Ngaru in on John's background, thanks for that Martha. Jake will have to debrief you, you won't be allowed access to any further developments on John's case. Understand?"
"Well blame Rose," she looked in Rose's direction as Rose tried to ignore her.
"I told you to keep it professional at all times Martha," Owen reminded her.
"I didn't do anything," Martha argued.
"Well it's out of my hands now, Rose won't have you here and it's up to her," Owen told her.
Martha thought it would be. So she looked like another Martha Jones in another universe, so what? Why was Rose so upset about it?
Everyone except the nurse went off so Rose got her clothes and went into the large bathroom that had been added for them but she knew someone would be with them at all times now. Owen would be worried about leaving John on his own. She had just come back out as their breakfast arrived and John was being helped.
"You get your own Miss Tyler, I'll see to him," the nurse offered. "I'm here to make things easier for you, I know how worried you are about him."
"I'm here," John gave a little wave with a slight grin.
"Thanks. Yeah, well don't act the tough guy," Rose warned him, taking her covered tray from the trolley and going to the table in the kitchen area. "Has Jake been in yet?"
"No Miss Tyler," the nurse replied as John insisted on holding the toast himself.
Jake was waiting for Pete.
"What do you make of it?" Pete was asking him as he signed a few letters before they left.
"She may be onto something Boss," Jake replied. "Will it work though?"
"Well if John's not too weak to give his thoughts about it, he may be able to say?" Pete wondered. "Let's go talk to Owen about it first?" he suggested.
They were about to leave when Owen called him.
"What?" Pete asked as Owen requested another doctor be assigned to work with John. "What's wrong with Doctor Jones?"
Jake started laughing.
"Pete, ya should have seen her and Rose."
"Rose refuses to let Martha near John," Owen explained. "I'll have to let Doctor Ngaru in on John's past, she's the only one who's qualified. I'm not happy about Martha's behaviour, it won't do John any good if she's hostile towards Rose."
"What started it?" Pete wanted to know.
"I'll tell ya on the way down," Jake replied.
"Well, we're on our way down, we need to talk to John, if he's up to it," Pete told Owen.
"Not for too long," Owen agreed. "So, can I go ahead? I told Martha to step back or she'd be out, she wasn't happy."
"Well, she's the least of our problems," Pete replied. "Just tell Doctor Ngaru enough for her to understand what John's problem may be and remind her she is sworn to secrecy. How's John this morning?"
"You mean after Martha left?" Owen joked. "I still don't get what problem Rose has with her but I have to follow her wishes and keep Martha away."
"Jake will fill you in," Pete promised.
"So?" Pete asked Jake as they got in the lift and Jake used the override so it wouldn't stop.
"You should have seen Martha when John first came about his problem. She was all over him and she knew he and Rose were an item," Jake laughed. "What makes it worse is Martha being The Doctor's companion and Rose meeting her."
"I see then? I expect Rose is just trying to protect John? She mentioned something about the other Martha making a play for him and he didn't welcome it."
"Yeah, I know," Jake agreed. "John has enough to deal with and this Martha's not helping."
Owen was talking with his new assistant, Martha was sulking in a corner when Jake and Pete walked in. Owen went to talk to them.
"Is John up to giving some input about the cannon?" Pete asked him.
"As long as you don't ask him too much. I suppose it will make him feel useful?" Owen agreed. "I'll go in with you, Rose has to get used to my new assistant."
They were just leaving when Martha approached them.
"Mr Tyler, I must object to being replaced and being put back onto research," she complained.
"Everyone has to play their part," Pete replied. "However small it is. Excuse me, we have things to discuss, Doctor Jones."
Pete and Owen went off but Jake stayed behind.
"Ya brought it on ya self Martha," he reminded her.
"Huh? How do you reckon that Jake?" Martha wanted to know.
Jake shook his head and went to join Pete and Owen, leaving Martha staring after him.
"Feel like talking John?" Owen asked him. "You can leave us nurse."
"Rose, why don't you tell us what you told Jake?" Pete suggested.
"Oh. What was that then?" John wanted to know.
Rose tried not to blush.
"Just that maybe instead of going over to find your twin, we can open a very small gap and send a signal?" Rose tried to remember what she'd said. "If he's hovering a nebula or something, he should be able to pick it up."
"Not a bad idea," Pete agreed. "So we carry on while we wait to see if he picks it up?"
"Well we don't want to rely completely on getting a message through but it may help?" Rose wondered.
"Well, that's easy," John grinned. "I can give you the frequencies the Tardis can pick up and if he happens to be near the Medusa Cascade, it will make it even easier."
"Well, now we have something positive to aim for, let's hope we can find something to get you well again," Pete told him. "We are not going to stop."
John was given a pad and began highlighting the frequencies, Rose helping him, Owen was filling Doctor Ngaru or Sammi as she liked to be known as to her friends in on John's condition and Martha was deciding if she was going to stay or not.
What was Rose's problem? Was she so insecure she thought she had a rival? Well, Martha Jones only went for her own kind, not half Human and half Timelord, although if John wasn't taken, she might make an exception. Maybe when he got well again, she might give Rose some competition.
