Getting their drinks, they sat down at a table next to the river, Alec seeing Rose look at the blue chalet again.

"There is no way I am going to live there Rose," he told her.

"I was only looking," Rose insisted. "I still don't know if I'm staying or not yet."

"You don't have to keep reminding me of that Rose," Alec replied. "It just makes me sad to think you may leave while I am working, that's all. Promise me you won't do that."

"Okay, I won't go without telling you," she agreed. "I should have got one of those cream waffles."

"I will get one for you then," he offered. "Then you continue telling me about this twin of John's."

Rose wondered what she was supposed to do now he knew most of it.

Ellie's husband was still going on about Rose.

"I thought you didn't like your boss?" he teased her. "Has he softened up because of his girlfriend then?"

"Stop it," Ellie warned him. "Imagine if I'd got that promotion? I couldn't have coped with Danny's death, being in charge."

Joe wondered what she meant by that? He would have rather dealt with his wife being in charge instead of her tough boss. Ellie would have been easy to fool, Hardy not so much, especially with Rose Tyler for a girlfriend.

Alec led Rose back to the caravan, wanting to borrow her car first before she told him about her past.

"Alec, ya can stay here even if I go home," Rose told him.

"I am not sure I can but I can't stay at the hotel love," he admitted. "Why don't we go out later eh, watch the entertainment? I won't be long getting my things, you get changed eh?"

Rose agreed and he went off, after Rose told him to be careful with her car. Alec had laughed and told her it was a good thing she had an automatic or he would be crashing the gears. Once at the hotel, Becca Fisher was less than happy at the news he was moving out.

"I could do without that," Becca told him as he got his key. "I know I let the press in but I was going to offer the police half price for your room."

"I need somewhere closer to the station, it's not practical being so far away," Alec told her. "I am sure you will fill the vacancy."

"Where should I send any mail?" Becca then wanted to know.

"To the station," he replied, not wanting her to know where he was going.

Alec went off and gathered his things, folding his other suit into his suitcase and his other things into a holdall. He checked the bathroom then one last look in the bedside cabinet. While he was checking, Karen White was just going into the small bar and ordering a drink, started talking to Becca.

"So, Olly recommend the hotel to you?" Becca asked her.

"Yeah. Is it okay if I use the lounge to work from?" Karen wanted to check.

"Sure, if you want? You won't get in anyone's way," Becca smiled.

"DI Hardy's staying here, I know he wants me to stay out of his way," Karen admitted.

"Don't worry about him, he won't be here after tonight," Becca told her. "He's got somewhere closer to the police station."

"Thanks for that bit of news," Karen seemed pleased as she caught a glimpse of Alec, who was looking for Becca.

"Ah, you're ready to leave then?" Becca asked him. "If you change your mind, you can always come back."

"So, where are you off to then?" Karen asked as she stood behind him by the mirror.

"As if I would tell you," Alec replied, taking the handle of his case.

"I never realised you two knew each other," Becca was amused.

Alec wished they didn't. Now, he had to keep both the London and local reporters away from Rose. Had he taken too much on? He managed to escape and drove back to the caravan, where Rose was waiting for him. She had called her mother before he got back.

"Make your mind up Rose," Jackie told her. "What am I going to tell Tony?"

"That I'll be home as soon as I can," Rose replied. "I promised Alec I'd stay until next weekend, then I don't know."

"Rose, if your gonna get over John, ya have to get on with your life," she was reminded.

"I know Mum and I think Alec can help but he has enough problems without me adding to them," Rose told her. "He's tryin' to keep the press and the local phoney psychic away from me."

"Well Pete offered to send Jake down to deal with that crank," Jackie pointed out. "He says Alec needs ya."

"He does Mum but he'll cope better without me gettin' in the way."

"Have you heard yourself Rose?" Jackie asked her. "John wouldn't want ya to be miserable over what happened. Pete said he and The Doctor were talking, saying they wanted ya to be happy."

"Mum, it's not that easy ya know? What did they say?" Rose wanted to know.

"You'd best ask Pete, he never went into any details," her mother replied.

Rose thought it wasn't like her mother to miss out on something.

"I'll see how I get on next week then," Rose relented.

"Have ya thought about the impact it'll make on Alec?" her mother wanted to know. "I mean I don't know much about him but Pete said ya were concerned about him? Give him a chance Rose, he might need you more than you need him."

Rose thought everyone was conspiring against her, if The Doctor and John had known about Alec. She knew she had to talk to Pete again.

"I want to know what was said Dad," Rose was insisting.

"Rose, they were just concerned about you," Pete was telling her. "John knew he had little time left, when the Doctor revived him that last time. He knew he couldn't keep on being brought back. They insisted I got you to go down to Broadchurch, they must have looked Alec up."

"How did they know I needed someone who looked like John?" Rose asked him. "I'm so confused right now and Alec wants me to tell him more."

"Then tell him, if you trust him," Pete replied. "It's up to you Rose. I didn't know what they had planned at first."

"Well it's not fair Dad. I just lost John and here's Alec, needing an operation and he won't go get it. Fat lot of good it was choosing him to help me get over what happened," Rose admitted.

"Maybe he'll get seen to if you stay?" Pete wondered. "Get him to hospital and leave the rest to me, I'll make sure he gets the best care. Don't tell him that if you don't want to," he offered.

"What if they can't fit him in just yet?" Rose was worried.

"Just get the name of the hospital from him Rose, he'll be told there's an appointment for him, he won't have to wait long. Best not make it right away, he might get suspicious," Pete laughed. "I'll have someone take care of it. If he gets worse, just get him there, I'll have the hospital expecting him."

"Thanks Dad. I suppose that makes me feel better but if I get involved with Alec, I can't go through what I did with John," Rose replied.

"I'm sure The Doctor wouldn't do that to you," Pete tried to assure her. "He cared about you, that's why he sent John with you, he didn't know what would happen."

"I know that Dad," Rose insisted. "I'll talk to Alec but I'm still not convinced that staying here is the best thing to do," she relented.

"Just give him a chance Rose, that's all he wants. Maybe the Doctor knew Alec was going to get ill and needed your help?" Pete asked her.

"Well it's not fair, after I just lost John," Rose replied. "I won't go back on my word, I'll give it until the end of the week."

"I'm sure he'll appreciate it," Pete agreed. "Call me when you get the hospital details."

"I will if he'll make an appointment," Rose laughed. "He's stubborn."

"Then you make a good pair," Pete laughed back.

Alec was trying to go through recent events as he drove back to the caravan. How had he got involved with Rose in such a short time, he wondered as he passed the site exit and wishing he could cheat. She had come from nowhere and he had let his curiosity get the better of him. Could she help him get through this investigation?

He stopped opposite the caravan and carefully reversed into the parking space, Rose opening the door when she heard the car. She helped him with his things, telling him to unpack later.

"You look very nice," he told her as he held onto her.

"It's not much," Rose insisted, looking at her simple blue dress with a white belt to compliment it.

"Even so, it suits you. If you have a necklace, I can fasten it for you," he suggested.

Rose went in her jewellery box and found a silver chain with a small heart on it and handed it to him.

"Ah, a tricky one," he joked, getting his specs out of his pocket.

Rose let out a giggle as he opened the clasp and placed it around her neck, taking the opportunity to sneak a kiss.

"Maybe I should keep you all to myself?" he told her as he let her go.

"You wanted to go out," Rose reminded him.

"Yes, hopefully no-one will recognise either of us?"

There weren't many people there and they got a table towards the back, near the bar. Rose insisted she got tickets to play bingo but Alec waved them away when she offered to share them.

"My mum's the one who always wins," Rose told him. "There's not many people playing though. I expect a lot with kids cancelled?"

"I expect so," Alec agreed. "You would have thought they would have gone ahead and taken responsibility to keep their kids safe."

"I expect they just panicked?" Rose replied. "Maybe others will start coming back next week?"

Rose managed to win a game, to her surprise and they enjoyed the entertainment then walked back to the caravan. Once they got Alec's things unpacked, Rose made some drinks after getting ready for bed.

"You still have more to tell me," Alec reminded her as she sat beside him, handing him a mug of hot chocolate. "You can tell me anything Rose, I am a detective," he assured her, moving a strand of her hair.

"I don't know where to start," Rose replied, curling her legs under her. "I spoke to my stepfather, he said to tell you what I can. Alec, it did start with the Cybermen, sort of."

"Then tell me everything and don't leave anything out eh?" he encouraged her.

"That could take a while," Rose smiled from behind her mug.

"Then you had better start, Miss Tyler," Alec replied, putting his free hand on her leg. "Why not start with this Doctor and how you got here?"

By the time she had finished, it was getting late and she was worried he'd not taken it very well. He surprised her though as she thought he'd go pack again.

"I have to believe you Rose," he assured her as she got up to move the mugs. "Those silver menaces had to go somewhere and Lumic just disappeared. The rumours were that the Cybermen had dealt with him when they were rounded up."

"Pete got his company back, after all the confusion," Rose admitted. "Lumic had taken over everything before that. We went off but Mickey stayed behind, to look after his grandmother he'd lost in our world. I never thought I'd come back here Alec."

"Well, you did and I am sorry you lost your friend Rose. It did make you determined to get back to him and I am glad it paid off," Alec told her. "He can't have known his twin would get ill."

"That's what Pete keeps telling me," Rose yawned. "Let's go to bed, there's not much more to tell ya."

"We still have to talk about me looking like both of them," Alec reminded her. "I still do not know how I feel about it."

"You're different to both of them Alec," Rose assured him. "Let me help you with that heart problem?"

"I can deal with it when I catch the killer," he insisted.

"Can't ya take a day off and get fixed?" Rose wanted to know. "I couldn't do anything to save John so let me do this for ya."

"I know you would have tried your best Rose. I know you risked everything to get help for him," Alec assured her. "Fine, I will call the appointments department tomorrow, if it will make you happy."

"Which hospital?" Rose dared ask him.

"I believe it will be Exeter, it will depend which one has the shortest waiting list," Alec replied, Rose thinking he wasn't being very helpful.

"Then go private," Rose urged him. "You're right, I couldn't do anything to help John, let me arrange it for ya."

"I don't like the idea," Alec disagreed. "If I had not met you, I would have to wait."

"Then get your doctor to tell them it's urgent," Rose suggested.

"I will, now get some sleep eh?" he insisted. "If I get a date, then will you stay? I'm asking you Rose but if you say no, I will just wait my turn for the surgery."

"Don't make me feel bad about it Alec," Rose told him.

"I'm not trying to Rose. I said I would get myself fixed but there will be no hurry if you go away," he replied. "Rose, I know we only just met but we both agree we were meant to, that the Doctor arranged it."

"Then he wouldn't want me to lose you as well," Rose told him.

She went off to the bathroom and Alec turned out the lights and went into the narrow corridor to the bedroom at the end. Rose wasn't giving him much of a choice, was she? To get her to stay, he had to agree to get seen to right away when he'd been putting it off all this time.

He hadn't been able to bring himself to do it for Daisy but two days of meeting Rose, she was offering to get him seen right away. He could hardly blame her when she'd just lost someone. He had to tell her she might be wasting her time and money but how? She'd been through enough lately.

Rose felt comfortable enough for some kissing and lying on him and settled down.

"So will ya think about letting me help ya?" she wanted to know before she fell asleep.

"Yes Rose, I will call and see what they say in the morning. Are you paying for it or is your stepfather?" he teased her.

"He can get it done quicker than I can," she had to admit. "He has connections."

"I can imagine," Alec replied, kissing her shoulder.

"Well he thinks the same as you Alec, that I was meant to come here, find you and help you," she yawned again. "So ya agree then?"

"How can I say no and let you down, if the Doctor, sent you to rescue me?" he replied.

Rose was already asleep but Alec smiled to himself. Just a few days of knowing her and she had taken over his life. He just hoped she'd now stay and not talk of getting in the way. Just as long as the so-called psychic stayed away. Rose called Pete the following morning and told him Alec had agreed to be helped. The holidays were coming up and Rose said she'd bring him to meet everyone, after his successful operation.

He got away with telling the chief he had something to do the following Monday, to give him an extra day to recover and had made his appointment as late as possible on the Friday afternoon. He was pacing up and down in the corridor outside the consultant's office just after four thirty, thinking he'd been forgotten.

"They take their time Alec," Rose reminded him, trying to get him to sit down.

"What if it's too late for them to operate?" he wanted to know.

"It's not, now stop worrying and sit down Alec, you're drivin' me nuts," Rose smiled.

"Easy for you to say," Alec muttered back as the door opposite suddenly opened and a nurse came out.

"Alec Hardy?" she asked him. "Come with me, we have to do a few tests first before you see the consultant."

"I'll wait here," Rose assured him.

"He's not going far," the nurse laughed.

He was back a short time later, carrying a plastic basket containing his clothes.

"So, getting it done now?" Rose teased him.

"Come in with me Rose," he suggested, handing the basket to her. "I would not be here had you not come with me."

The consultant explained the procedure was simple enough and that his chances were quite good.

"So, shall we go ahead?" they were both asked.

"I have a phone call to make," Alec insisted.

Tess had just got home from work, Daisy sat at the kitchen table doing her homework.

"What is it Alec?" Tess wanted to know. "When are you coming to see Daisy?"

Rose had said they could call in when they were on their way back to London.

"Ah, well that depends," Alec just replied.

"That's just typical of you," Tess complained.

"Tess, give it a rest," he insisted, since the consultant had gone off to prepare for surgery. "I'm getting surgery, for a pacemaker."

"What? When?" Tess wanted to know.

"Ah, now," Alec told her. "I'm with someone, don't fuss. I met someone, a while ago and well, we're together," he smiled at Rose. "We'll call and see Daisy in a week or so, they need to meet."

Daisy had been listening and looked up from her books.

"Is he joking Mum?" she asked.

"No Daisy, no joke," Alec assured her. "You'll like her, her name is Rose."

"No chance it's Rose Tyler I suppose?" Daisy tried to sound interested. "I would be the envy of all my friends if it was."

"Well be prepared for envious friends. I have to go now, the nurse came back to take me to get prepared but I'll have Rose call you when I come out, it could be a while before I come round," Alec told her.

"Yeah, I'll call her Alec, don't worry," Rose assured him.

"This way Alec, your girlfriend can wait just across the corridor," the nurse told him. "Don't worry, you'll be in and out in no time, you'll have the best of care."

Rose hoped so, considering Pete was paying for Alec fitting in after hours. After what seemed like ages for Rose, she heard the door opposite open so she got up, seeing Alec being wheeled on a bed to the recovery room.

"Can I sit with him?" she asked a nurse.

"Of course, we'll just get him settled," Rose was told.

When he finally came to, Rose was watching him.

"Welcome back Alec."

"I made it," he laughed.

"Good thing too, my stepfather would have been disappointed," Rose replied. "Well, I guess now, I'm staying then?"

"I hope so love. You made me realise it was not just about me. You have been let down enough. Go see when I can get out of here eh?"

In the other universe, The Doctor had been hoping Rose had taken the hint and gone in search of the detective. He'd known there was something wrong with the man but Rose wouldn't let any harm come to him, not after losing John. He was quite pleased with himself that maybe this time, he'd made things right for her.

His twin had told him he just wanted Rose to be happy and had been grateful for the short time he'd been with her. Had Rose got to him sooner, maybe things would have been different but then, maybe Alec Hardy wouldn't have gone for his surgery nor had Rose by his side when he had.

Yes, he thought as he floated around another nebula. Alec Hardy had deserved another chance when he'd sacrificed himself to bring in a killer and had chosen to hide his illness. Alec had also deserved to have Rose at his side and he could live with that.

The End!