Tess was taking no notice as she went to the small sideboard where there were more photos of Rose on her own and the two of them, from their holidays.
"You never said she was blonde Alec," Tess told him, picking one up. "You don't talk much about her."
"I don't take my personal life to work with me Tess," he reminded her. "Now will you please leave?"
"Come on Alec, you don't really expect her to call?" Tess laughed, waving a photo at him.
"Stop it, she promised to call," he replied, looking sad.
"Why do you wait for her? Have you told her about the arrest yet?" Tess wanted to know.
"I'm going to, I didn't want to tell her mother first," he admitted.
"Well what are you going to do, if that doesn't work?" Tess wanted to know. "You do know I'm only concerned because we work closely together?" she added, putting the photo down. "You know what they say about people who work closely together."
Alec went to put the photo back it its rightful place when Tess didn't, him thinking she'd done it on purpose.
"You should go home Tess," he reminded her, wondering what was delaying Rose.
Rose had got up and was staring at the phone.
"Rose, just call him," her mother was telling her.
"What if he's taken up with that Tess?" Rose was wondering.
"Why would he?" her mother asked, her arms folded. "Rose, he wouldn't do that to ya, you should hear the sadness in his voice when he calls and you're either not here or won't talk to him. It's heartbreaking."
"How can I tell him how sorry I am Mum?" Rose asked, wiping a tear away.
"He'll forgive ya Rose, he loves ya," Jackie reminded her. "You'll be late for work if ya don't call him now."
Jackie went to the phone and started dialling Alec's home number, listening for it ringing. Then she handed it to Rose.
"I'll go make another drink," she told a nervous Rose.
Alec had picked up on the third ring, hoping Tess would get the hint and leave and hoping Rose wouldn't hear anything. He just prayed Tess wouldn't say anything but now, he wasn't so sure she'd stay quiet.
"Don't make a sound Tess," he warned her as it rang for the third time. "Rose?" he asked cautiously, in case it was Jackie saying Rose was refusing to call him again.
He had no idea what Rose had got in her head about them, was she thinking he didn't for some reason want to talk to her?
"Alec?" Rose asked nervously. "How have ya been?" she asked, for lack of knowing what she should say.
"I'm good, are you? I've missed talking to you."
"Yeah, me too. Mum said ya'd been calling, I was just nervous," she admitted.
"Me too, I mean it's been a while," he replied, not seeing Tess rolling her eyes.
He just wished Tess would leave but she needed to call for a cab and he'd no idea how long he'd be talking to Rose, it depended how long she had. Right now, he'd take any time she had.
"I tried to call ya, I kept missing ya," Rose told him.
"You mean here? I leave before you get home, apparently," he laughed nervously.
"I meant at work, when I get home. Some woman answered," Rose told him.
Alec turned to look at Tess. So she was hiding the fact Rose had called. Tess knew by the look on his face he now knew and was about to leave and take her chances she'd catch a passing taxi.
"I was maybe out or in a briefing?" he wondered, instead of mouthing to Tess he knew what she'd done.
"She didn't say but I think her name was Tess," Rose replied. "Does she work with ya? She said she did."
"Yes, she's my partner but I never got any messages," Alec told her, now seeing Tess looked guilty. "We have been quite busy. Rose, I have some news for you. We arrested Bob and his friends."
"What?" Rose called out loudly that made her mother open the kitchen hatch. "Are ya serious? Alec, now they'll know me and mum were involved."
"I promised you I'd get him in the end," he replied, wondering why he'd not got the reaction he'd wanted. "Rose, we got them on historical abuse charges, your name won't be revealed."
"You say that now," Rose replied quietly, Jackie wondering what she was talking about.
"I've been told from a higher officer, you won't be named."
"You told them I was involved," Rose stated.
"I had to Rose. I did it so you could come back. Please Rose, I have a place of my own, it's not very big but once you get here, you can get a job and we'll get something bigger," he promised.
He didn't notice Tess was now scowling at him. She was annoyed he still wanted his long-distance girlfriend to come back. She was so annoyed, she knocked something over.
"What was that?" Rose asked as she heard a crash.
"Sorry, me being clumsy," Alec laughed, trying to say it was him and shoo Tess away.
Tess retaliated by holding her hand out to stop at him as she backed into the kitchen.
"She's there, isn't she?" Rose asked quietly. "Don't deny it Alec."
"What? Okay, she called in, on her way home and she's leaving," he admitted.
"I knew it. She made a point of telling me who she was Alec, I should've known you wouldn't stay on your own once ya got back."
"Rose, please love. She's just my work partner, nothing else," he tried to assure her.
"Thanks for gettin' Bob locked up but how can I ever come back now?" Rose asked as tears fell on her cheeks.
"Rose, you can come back, I am still on my own and I don't know why Tess called around this morning," he tried to convince her.
"You say that Alec. If I come back, how do I know she'll just go away? Besides that, I may still have to answer questions about Bob and I can't face him Alec. I'm sorry."
"Rose, please listen to me," he panicked as the other end went quiet.
Rose was standing with the phone in her hand, then passing it to Jackie.
"I can't talk to him Mum," Rose cried as she ran off.
Jackie heard Alec calling Rose's name on the other end, asking her to talk to him.
"She's run off Alec," Jackie had to tell him. "What the hell did ya say to her?"
"Nothing Jackie, I swear. She thinks I have someone here with me, on purpose but it's just someone from work," he wanted to explain.
"What the hell are ya playing at Alec? She said someone was answering your work phone, didn't ya get the messages?" Jackie wanted to know.
Alec glared at Tess.
"No Jackie, I didn't get the messages. Tell Rose I'm sorry about that. Ask her to talk to me."
Jackie heard the front door slam. Rose had rushed to her room, grabbed her things and run out.
"Sorry Alec. She's gone for the bus," Jackie told him.
"Will you ask her to call me at work? I'll make sure I stay at my desk," he promised, looking at Tess.
"Did I hear right and ya have that woman from work at your place, at this time in a morning?" Jackie suddenly realised.
"She just called on her way home," Alec explained again. "Jackie, I told Rose that we arrested Bob, for child abuse, amongst other things."
"I won't testify against him Alec, he caused enough trouble," Jackie replied. "Don't ask Rose to do it. I saw something in the paper but I didn't know it was him."
"There were no names mentioned Jackie, you and Rose won't be asked to testify. We have enough on them. Please Jackie, tell Rose I haven't got anyone else," he told Jackie sadly.
Jackie promised she'd try but she thought too much damage had been caused. Alec thought the same as he put the phone down.
"You've really done it now Tess," he turned to her.
"I didn't mean to knock anything," Tess defended herself. "Did she say I answered when she called? I didn't know who she was."
"So you didn't think to tell me Tess?" he half shouted. "What the hell? I said I was expecting her to call."
"It could have been anyone else," Tess held her ground.
"Who else would it have been? I'm disappointed in you Tess. I thought you were my friend? Now Rose will never come back and she won't talk to me again."
"What can I say Alec?" Tess asked him, feeling tired. "Call a cab for me or I'll be staying here."
"Huh? Tess, what are you playing at?" he wanted to know as she flopped on his sofa. "You expect me to let you stay, when you withheld that from me?"
"Well from whoever it was who called, she didn't sound too bothered when I said you weren't there," Tess tried to further defend herself. "She never rang back."
"Maybe she expected you to tell me, so I would call her back Tess," Alec replied angrily.
"Well I didn't know. She should have rung you back," Tess replied.
"Just go home Tess," he asked her again. "I just want to be on my own."
Tess held her hands out for him to help her up. Just wanting her to leave, he fell for her trick as she got up and grabbed his arms for support. He held his arms to steady her and she fell against him, Alec then trying to distance himself from her but not quite managing it.
She leaned forward to kiss his cheek but went for his lips at the last second. He tried to pull away but she was gripping his arms as he'd pulled them back already.
"No Tess," he tried to resist as she tried again.
"Think about it Alec. She's really far away and I'm here. I heard talk last night. That DCI was interested in you joining his squad."
"Who told you that?" Alec wanted to know as Tess let go with her lips, only just registering they'd actually kissed.
"I don't miss much," Tess smiled, pleased she was sowing the seeds of doubt about his almost ex girlfriend. "We wouldn't be directly working with each other Alec, that could make a difference."
"In what way?" Alec wanted to know as Tess wormed her arms under his shoulders slowly.
"We could both get on days?" she suggested. "I was offered but I said no."
"What for?" Alec wanted to know, Tess thinking he was a bit slow.
"Because of you, why else?" she replied, looking up at him. "I'd heard you were wanting your girlfriend to move up here but I'd already wanted to be friends, things don't always work out."
Alec thought she could say that again.
"No Tess, not always but I can't just give up on her," he decided.
"Then how long are you going to give her Alec? Can't you see what's under your nose? If she loved you, she'd be here, not in London," Tess tried to convince him.
"Tess, you should still go, I'm confused right now," he told her, trying to move her away.
"Then think about it Alec. I'm not going anywhere but I am going to ask about going on days. If you get offered a move to the CID, are you going to take it?" she asked him.
"Maybe? It would mean I could get more people like Bob. Rose's mother doesn't want to be involved with it but we have plenty to get him on. Tess, you know I won't completely give up on Rose?"
Rose had sat at the back of the bus, still trying to hold back the tears and feeling angry at the same time. What the hell had Alec been thinking of? Allowing someone to be there when he knew she was calling? Now, it was too late, the woman had obviously wormed her way in and taken advantage but to not tell Alec about her calling?
It seemed that Tess had done it on purpose, to get Alec's attention and it had worked. She got to the store and went up in the lift to the top floor and into the staff canteen, where Donna was waiting for her.
"What happened to you?" Donna wanted to know.
"I tried to talk to Alec," Rose replied, blowing on her coffee. "He had someone there with him Donna, the woman he works with."
"Well maybe there was a reason?" Donna wondered, wanting to tell Rose it was her own fault for not going up there.
"At that time in the morning Donna?" Rose asked her. "How can I think of going up there now?"
"You weren't going up there anyway," Donna sighed. "I did try to warn ya. I was walking by the office last night and guess what?"
"I don't know Donna? Anyway, what's the point in me tryin' to call Alec again?"
"Are you really going to give up just because ya think he had someone with him?" Donna wanted to know. "Anyway, I was gonna tell you I think Phil from the electrical department's thinking of leaving, he was talking to Maggie."
"Ya mean Phil with the ginger hair?" Rose wanted to know.
"There's only one," Donna laughed. "I bet he'll be in to see me later. I'm gonna tell James to apply for it."
"Won't he have an advantage?" Rose wondered, forgetting they were supposed to be talking about her.
"What's wrong with that? It'll save them from advertising, won't it?" Donna reasoned. "Anyway, about you and Alec. What ya gonna do?"
"I don't know Donna, I was hoping for a little help," Rose replied.
When Alec got to work that night, the sergeant sent him to see the DCI he'd been working with.
"Take a seat Hardy," the DCI told him, a cigarette hanging from the side of his mouth. "You still want in?"
"Yes Sir, very much. I can learn so much from you and Sergeant Carter," Alec replied.
"Right, you're in, as from Monday. Carter will fill you of what's expected of you and if it works out, I expect you to get a promotion within the year, understand?" he asked Alec.
Alec had every intention of getting a promotion, then he'd get time off when he wanted and try to reason with Rose. That though was a way off and he still had those few days booked to go down to London and persuade her there was nothing going on between him and Tess. How could he forget that kiss earlier though?
It wasn't like the ones he'd shared with Rose, they were sweet and he'd always put more into it but he'd found himself kissing Tess back because he missed being with Rose. He went back to his desk, hoping Rose hadn't tried calling him back but he somehow doubted she'd have got home early to do so.
He thought about earlier that morning, after he'd tried to tell Tess to leave and he'd called for a cab. She'd kissed him again and he couldn't help himself but he'd not seen the satisfied look on Tess's face as she got into the cab.
"How did you get on?" Tess wanted to know when he got back. "And no, Rose hasn't called."
"It's too early and besides, I doubt she will. I'll give her a few days, then if not, I have that time off to go see her," he replied, trying to forget what had happened earlier.
Tess wasn't going to let him.
"Did that mean nothing this morning Alec?" she asked quietly.
"Tess, I thought you were just comforting me?" he replied.
"I was at first but don't you get it?" she wanted to know. "What I said, about you moving to CID, we could get the same hours. Oh, I also asked for some time off, the sergeant thought since you were off, he'd give me the same. I didn't know then you'd be moving departments."
"It won't matter Tess, I'm going to London," Alec replied.
Tess wasn't about to give up.
"Well if Rose won't talk to you, you could pay me a visit when you get back," Tess suggested.
Rose got home and waited for her mother making something to eat, wondering whether to give Alec the benefit of the doubt over Tess being there earlier.
"Are ya gonna call him?" Jackie asked as Rose leaned on the counter. "You have to give him a chance Rose. You're the one who won't wear your ring or go see him. Ya have no excuse now."
"What if Bob's not locked up yet and he finds out I'm there?" Rose asked.
"He wouldn't dare go after you Rose, would he?" Jackie wondered.
"Wouldn't he Mum? To get back at Alec for arresting him? What if he's on bail and not locked up?"
"You're being paranoid Rose," her mother warned her.
"Am I Mum?"
"Crikey, I'd better tell everyone again not to talk to anyone with a Scottish accent," Jackie replied. "What did Donna say about it?"
"She was too busy trying to get her cousin a job at the store," Rose yawned.
"Ya mean James? If ya ask me, he looks a bit like John. Do ya think Alec will really look like him now?" Jackie wondered.
"I don't know Mum. I think James is about John's age, he's older than Alec, Donna made a point of telling me but she's said nothing about him looking like Alec," Rose replied.
"Maybe she never thought about it?" Jackie asked.
"Geez, I hope Donna's not tryin' to play matchmaker," Rose shuddered.
"Rose, call Alec after we've eaten?" Jackie pleaded.
"Leave it Mum, please. I don't wanna think about it."
While Tess and Alec had been talking at their desks, the sergeant had been observing them. He was going to miss Alec and he thought Tess would ask to be put on days if Alec did, well sort of days, the CID liked to get their overtime in. He wondered if Alec would end up not going down to London and stay at home on the few days off he'd booked. He'd seen no harm giving Tess the same time.
Alec gave Tess a ride home the next morning and she invited him in.
"I'd best not Tess. See you tonight," he refused tactfully.
"Maybe tomorrow morning?" she just smiled.
"I don't know Tess, maybe Rose will call."
"Maybe she won't? I'll ask you again Alec, how long are you going to wait?" Tess asked him.
Alec drove off, wondering what he was going to do if Rose didn't call back. Did he give in to the inevitable and spend some time with Tess or did he wait and go down to London as he'd planned? Had he remembered to tell Rose when he was planning on going to visit her?
When Rose got to work, Donna asked her if anything had happened, Rose saying no.
"I got James an interview," Donna admitted during their mid-morning break.
"Well he'll get it, if you have anything to do with it," Rose smiled.
She was right as James arrived for his interview and the assistant manager wondered how James had got to know about it so quickly.
"It was Donna, she told me," James admitted. "Is that a problem?"
"No, it's not a problem. She seems to think you'll fit in nicely," he was told. "Can you start on Monday?" he asked James, looking at the application form Donna had given James the night before.
"Yes! Brilliant! I look forward to it," James replied enthusiastically, shaking the man's hand fervently.
James didn't know if it was his qualifications or Donna that had secured him the job or not.
Friday night, Alec was officially welcomed into the CID by being given his orders by the chief, who congratulated him and hoped he'd put in for a promotion as soon as possible and being told he'd be working the same hours as everyone else, which were often unsociable.
Alec thought that might put Tess off, hopefully. He still wanted to go talk Rose into coming back with him but he'd heard Bob and his friends had got police bail until the trial so he was going to have to be very careful if she did agree. He somehow doubted she would come back though, once she heard.
He went to the DCI to ask what would happen.
"Well, everyone involved will be told the trial date and asked if they want to attend. They can give evidence if they feel up to it but it's pretty much cut and dried, with all the statements we have. We'd do even better, getting one from your girlfriend."
"I don't know if she still is Sir. I told her when she last called, she was upset about it," Alec admitted.
"That's a shame but we can manage without it. See you on Monday morning Hardy."
Sunday lunchtime in Chiswick, James was bragging to his aunt and uncle about the job he'd got at the store, making Donna blush.
"You watch it when ya start there, spaceman," Donna was warning him.
"I don't know what you mean Donna," James was trying to fool her.
"Rose works there," his aunt reminded him.
"Rose? Oh, your friend Rose?" he asked Donna.
"You know who I mean. She's split with her boyfriend in Scotland, for the last time I think," Donna replied.
"Well I'm surprised how long it lasted," her mother told her. "Don't you think Geoff?" she asked her husband.
Donna just shook her head and nudged her cousin. As he was leaving, Donna caught him.
"Rose is pretty upset. Imagine having the same boyfriend from when you're a teenager?" she asked no-one in particular.
"Mmm, imagine," James mused.
Donna nudged him again, saying, "Duh – spaceman. Since you got that job at the store, you should try making friends with her, since she sort of knows you," she suggested.
"Donna, you know what I'm like, especially with women," James objected.
"You mean with Sophia," Donna teased him.
"Don't remind me," he replied. "I don't want to talk about her."
"Leave him Donna, you know that wasn't his fault," her mother agreed.
"Sorry. Anyway, Rose is different, she's not stuck up like some of your past girlfriends," Donna relented. "She might shy away from men anyway."
"What happened?" her mother wanted to know.
"I kept telling her to go up there, to Scotland," Donna replied.
"Why, did her boyfriend live up there?" James wanted to know.
"Well yeah, of course he did. Rose lived up there for a while, then she came back. They even got engaged but she won't go back because of something that happened there," Donna explained. "She doesn't like to talk about it."
"It's not surprising," her mother sympathised, getting up to clear the dishes.
"It must have been bad, to stop her going back," James agreed.
"Well, maybe you can help her," Donna wondered.
She left her cousin to think about it, getting up to help her mother.
"Do you think he'll do anything about it?" her mother asked.
"I hope so, then they'll both stop moping about," Donna replied.
