Can't hide it now

Rose was waiting by the entrance to the store, well one of them but she doubted he'd use the one that led to a back street. Alec was making his way to meet her when he got a call from Tess.

"I know what you're up to Alec, you can't hide it," Tess goaded him.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Alec denied anything, thinking she'd taken a wild guess.

"Don't try that with me Alec," Tess replied.

"Fine, get off my case Tess, you don't get to control me now," he replied defiantly. "You will be getting the papers from a Scottish court to say the divorce is going through," he added.

"What?" Tess laughed. "How is that going to make any difference if I don't agree to sign?" she then wanted to know.

"That's your problem Tess. You agreed to get married in Paisley," he reminded her.

"What difference would it have made?" Tess asked him, hoping to catch him out.

"That's how much you know Tess," Alec replied as he approached the street the store was in and thought he could see Rose waiting.

This is what he'd been wanting, what he'd missed so much. The sheer joy he was going to meet Rose like he used to all that time ago and when he was on his way to see her with John. He knew John hadn't wanted to spend every holiday going down to London but he'd done it anyway. He stopped for a moment, knowing Rose had seen him so he waved.

"I have to go, expect a letter from them," he ended the call.

"That's right Alec, any excuse," Tess hissed at him. "I fail to see what difference the Scottish court will make."

"Well you will see," Alec gloated, knowing she wouldn't easily get out of this one.

Tess stared at her phone as Alec disconnected and was about to throw it on her desk when Dave approached.

"Alec trying to get to you again?" Dave laughed.

"I don't know what's amusing about it," Tess replied.

"He's just trying to get you going Tess," Dave told her. "Don't you want to be free of him? Does he know the truth?"

"Yes and until now I never thought he'd do anything about it," Tess admitted.

"So he's fighting back?" Dave further teased her.

"Let him, why should I care?" Tess replied, turning her screen off.

"Not much," Dave told her. "Let's go to the pub and have a drink?' he suggested.

"That's all we ever do," Tess complained. "Something's changed."

"You mean his old girlfriend came back?" Dave tried to sound serious. "Forget going out if you're going to moan about it Tess."

"No, you can buy me a drink," Tess decided she deserved one. "While we're at it, when are you telling your wife about us?" she wanted to know.

"As soon as I think of a suitable arrangement," Dave replied.

"That's all you ever say, you can't hide it from her forever, be a man and face up to her Dave," Tess told him angrily.

"That's easy for you to say Tess. You have no idea how she'll react," Dave admitted. "How did you tell Alec?"

"Leave it," Tess told him, getting her jacket on. "Rose has to be back."

"I tried to tell you that," Dave reminded her as they left.

"I mean here in Sandbrook," Tess corrected him. "Why would he go see the chief? Then he left early last night, so I was told."

"So someone saw a big smirk on his face this morning, like he'd had sex last night?" Dave burst out laughing. "He wouldn't have gone to you, would he?"

Tess was about to strike out at him as two uniformed officer came in, making Dave want to tease her even more. Why should he care he was stringing her along and never even told his wife he was leaving? He had learned how she had stolen Alec away from his then girlfriend and had known she'd get tired of him in the end.

They arrived at the pub not far from the police station and Dave wanted to know why Tess was convinced Alec's lost love was in the town.

"She can't have been here long Tess, if you've just seen a change in Alec," Dave suggested as he drank from a pint glass.

"He's always seemed like he was a million miles away," Tess admitted, thinking she'd never seen Alec down a pint of ale, of any kind, let alone the dark stuff Dave was drinking.

"What, like he was on another planet?" Dave mocked.

Tess knew he could be a bit of an ass when he wanted to be.

"That's not helping Dave," Tess tutted at him. "You're not bothered about me are you?"

She already knew she couldn't treat Dave the same way as she did Alec.

"Come off it Tess. Either leave him to get on with it or don't let your divorce go through," Dave suggested.

"Well that's typical Dave, stick with Alec why don't you?" Tess asked him in a huff.

Dave held his other hand up, the other one still holding the almost empty glass.

"I'm not on his side," Dave protested. "But you keep talking about Alec like you don't want a divorce. You're still trying to hold onto him and control him."

"I am not," Tess hissed at him.

"Well stop acting like it then," Dave told her as he held out his hand for her glass, Tess shaking her head. "Where's our food got to, we'll be late back," he complained.

Tess had already attempted to control him but Dave had made it clear from the start that was never going to happen.

Alec had reached where Rose was waiting, having put his phone away and him hoping she didn't take it the wrong way, such as he was going to call it off by text. They had both longed for phones that were able to send messages and John had laughed, saying to wait and it would happen, eventually.

Hi," Rose greeted him as he kissed her cheek. "Wow I can't believe I'm actually here, meeting ya."

"I felt exactly the same on my way here," Alec admitted. "I was quite nervous actually."

"Yeah, me too," Rose confessed. "Where are we eating?"

He thought maybe the pub near the station was out, Tess would probably go there to tell Dave the latest news.

"Ah, I know just the place," he smiled as she put her arm in his.

"Tess won't be there, will she?" Rose was worried.

"No love, she won't and if she is? I trust you will not start a cat fight in public?" he joked.

"You'd just love that," Rose laughed back.

He still loved the way she smiled and teased him, he had missed her so much. They found a café and ordered and Alec wanted to catch up on what was happening with Jamie and Jackie.

"So, does your mother forgive me?" he wanted to know as they waited.

"Yeah. I think she was more mad at me for not puttin' up a fight," Rose admitted.

"Well, can we forget about that?" Alec asked her. "We were both to blame. I should never have let Tess walk all over me."

"Yeah, I know Alec. James was so good to me though, he took charge of me when I didn't know what to do for the best. Anyway, ya sounded excited on the phone. Whatcha got to tell me then?" she asked him.

"Tess and I got married in Paisley, that makes it applicable to Scottish law," he told her, trying not to seem excited by the fact.

"So, what does that mean?" Rose was unsure why he was telling her this.

"Don't you get it love? Tess and I split some time ago, there's only Daisy I keep friendly with her for. If I could get her on my side, then I wouldn't need to talk to Tess. Rose, if I am right, I can go ahead finalising the divorce without Tess being able to object."

"Really?" Rose didn't think it would be that simple. "Would ya have to apply in person?"

"I am trying to find out about it love. If I do, come with me?" he asked her.

"Alec. I would but I have to think how this is affecting Jamie," Rose replied. "If you stay this weekend with us, he can get to know ya a bit but if I'm coming back here with ya, I have to start making arrangements for him to get into college."

"I will help you love, you know I will," he promised. "I don't blame you if you no longer trust me."

"Alec, I do trust ya. You didn't leave me on purpose, I know that now," Rose tried to assure him.

"How can you forgive me so easily?" he asked her quietly.

"Ya know the answer," Rose told him. "Are ya gonna look for somewhere else to stay?"

"I am trying and I also asked about a transfer," he told her.

"To London?" Rose asked hopefully, so she didn't have to sell or rent out the house.

"Ah. Maybe somewhere neutral?" he teased.

"Ya mean go back to living in Scotland?" Rose wondered.

"You don't get it love?" he smiled. "Try somewhere beginning with 'B'," he then teased.

"No way!" Rose forgot where she was. "Seriously? Did they have a police station?"

"They do now, right by the harbour," Alec smiled back. "Did we not try to find one the last time we were there?"

"Maybe?" Rose tried to remember. "We were so happy back then. We talked about going to live there."

"I know you loved it there. Why not leave it all to me eh?" he suggested.

Tess was back at the station before Alec so she wondered what he was up to. She hadn't liked Dave snapping at her and thinking he was getting the better of her. She saw Alec coming in and going to his office and after five minutes, it was getting to her that he was ignoring her.

"What do you want Tess?" Alec asked her when she'd given in. "I am not discussing anything but the case with you."

"Well you won't talk to me outside work. Why did you leave early last night?" Tess wanted to know.

"No Tess, you do not get to ask me questions like that," he warned her. He saw the look on her face. "You took advantage of me, back then in Paisley. Well no more, it's done with and from now on, you do not get to know anything other than to do with Daisy or the divorce."

"You still need me to sign Alec," Tess replied.

"Do I?" he asked her. "I suggest you look up Scottish law. You took advantage that I missed Rose and I cannot forgive you for that. I need to speak to Daisy, tell her I will be coming to see her."

"I'll see if she wants to," Tess told him.

"No Tess, you make sure she is there, we are no longer working around her. She can object as much as she wants. Give her warning I will be around after work tomorrow. There are going to be a few changes and she needs to know what is going to happen."

"What's come over you Alec?" Tess wanted to know as he indicated for her to leave.

"Seriously? I finally came to my senses Tess. You barged your way into my life when I was going through a bad time and I was foolish enough to let you. Well it's over and done with so you had best get used to it," he further warned her.

"She's back, isn't she?" Tess asked him, knowing that could be the only reason he had toughened up.

He had tried to promise Rose he wouldn't let Tess know but if he risked telling her he'd been contacted?

"She saw me on TV," he admitted. "We have been in contact."

"So she's here?" Tess persisted.

She knew now that Alec meant business, just like he'd been before he was convinced Rose would never get over her problem of not being able to return to Scotland.

"Get back to work Tess, this case is not going to solve itself," he told her firmly, wanting to find the killer so he could get out of the town.

Even if he wasn't lucky to get a position in Broadchurch, maybe he could get one close enough to commute? Tess was staring at him when they were interrupted by a junior officer.

"Excuse me Sir, I have some news on what you asked me to keep an eye out for," he told Alec.

"Thank you, leave it on my desk," Alec replied. "What are you still doing here Tess?"

"Looking her up?" Tess asked sarcastically.

"Get out Tess, I mean it before I have you transferred out of here," he warned her.

"You can't do that, they were restructuring at the other station," Tess reminded him.

"You would be surprised at what I can do," he replied. "I can talk the chief into moving you back."

"That's low, even for you," Tess was stunned he was actually standing up to her.

"Afraid of getting parted from Dave?" he then asked her.

He wasn't going to tell her he was trying to get transferred so Rose didn't have to live in the same town for long. Tess stormed out, Alec thinking he should have done that a long time ago but Rose had been happy with James so it didn't really matter.

The folder he'd been handed contained news he'd finally been waiting for. He'd had a rookie DC doing a special job for him, that of keeping an eye on a certain person who had caused Rose all those problems when she'd lived in Scotland and who was mainly responsible for keeping himself and Rose apart all this time. He maybe shouldn't have used police resources for his own purposes but he had only done so because Rose deserved to know.

He got Rose's number and called her.

"Hi, I just got back," Rose told him.

"I hope you did not buy the store?" he teased her.

"Aw, you always used to go on about my wardrobe," Rose laughed. "What are ya calling for? Did Tess guess I was here?"

"Well yes, she was trying to get to me but she failed. I have you back now, she won't get her own way any more. Rose, I have some news for you. I had someone look up about Bob."

Rose sat down before answering.

"Alec, leave it. I know ya did the best ya could before," she replied.

"No, it's not that love. According to a report I just got, after I asked someone to look it up for me, Bob died several years ago."

He waited for her to say something before calling her name.

"Oh, sorry. Well, I naturally told James about it, eventually as to why I never went to live in Scotland but he thought it best not to tell anyone else in his family, though Donna knew a bit about it," Rose replied. "Alec, I've been thinking and I want to tell Donna, about why James went out that night."

"Well, if that's what you want? Then I insist on being with you. We could go see John and Sarah-Jane on Saturday then call and see your friend before I leave on Sunday?" he suggested. "I know you need some time to sort things out so I will go back on Friday and spend more time with Jamie."

"Yeah, he'll understand, he knows that ya still tryin' to find that young girl's killer," Rose told him.

"Yes and about tomorrow evening? I will call and tell Daisy about us and that she has a half brother and relatives in London and Scotland. We can go out afterwards?" he wondered.

"Well I can get a cab and meet ya somewhere?" Rose suggested.

He knew she had always understood far better than Tess ever had.

"That will mean Tess knows you are here for sure," he reminded her.

"I know but I don't want to see her Alec or I will have a go at her," Rose reminded him.

"I know love, she will not spoil things for us, once I contact the Scottish court."

Tess had been furious as she'd left Alec's office then seen him on the phone probably speaking to Rose.

"Go away Dave, I'm not in the mood," she snapped as Dave approached her desk.

"Well, he's really got you riled then?" Dave joked. "Fine, I'll leave you alone then. I thought you were getting divorced, not trying to keep him? Oh, you were serious about his old girlfriend coming back then?" he laughed. "She's in town?"

"She has to be, the way he just talked to me," Tess admitted.

"Tough luck Tess. Looks like Alec's no longer under your thumb then?" Dave grinned. "Forget it if you're going to complain about it, you have to face up to it, he still carries a flame for her."

Tess didn't need reminding that once she'd made Alec forget about Rose, he'd been easy to manipulate but it wasn't working on him now, well not since they had split but this had given him the final push. She thought about going to the chief but he'd made it clear he wasn't interested in them complaining about each other all the time.

The chief had tried to find out what the exact cause of Alec going to him for a transfer had been. If an old girlfriend had come back, why hadn't Tess been in to complain? He called his counterpart at the other station and told the fairly new chief of his dilemma.

"I sympathise Jim, my hands are tied though. I can't take DS Hardy back, my budget is too tight, I have more than the required number of DS's and DIs," the other chief reminded him.

"I know that Barry but at least now, DI Hardy's asking for a transfer. Want to make a trade?" he asked hopefully.

If Alec wanted to go somewhere else afterwards, it would no longer be his problem.

"I can ask," the other chief offered. "Does he want to stay in the town? I heard rumours they're on the verge of divorce?"

"Yes, that's what's giving me the problem," Jim Moody admitted. "Tess won't sign the papers, so I can gather. Seems she wants to stick to a separation."

"So the rumours she's having an affair are true?" he was asked, Barry letting out a laugh.

"I don't find it amusing, when they are supposed to be working together to catch a killer," he reminded Barry.

"If you want some help, you only have to ask," Barry offered. "Anything you need."

"I appreciate that but with those two at war, we're getting nowhere fast. Alec told me an old girlfriend has contacted him, that means Tess will be in a worse mood but it might give Alec an incentive to crack the case wide open," Jim hoped.

"Well good luck with that," Barry laughed. "I'll let you know if someone wants to swap with one of them. I'm surprised Tess was even sent back to you but that was when I was just being appointed, I had no say over it."

"I know it's not your fault but I bet you anything that Tess tricked Alec Hardy into bringing her back here," Jim guessed.

Rose had waited for Jamie getting home from school and was telling him about his uncle John.

"So he managed to stay as your teacher?" Jamie laughed. "Using an English accent in a Scottish school?"

"Yeah, I asked him about it later, I think he guessed I was English and didn't want me feeling out of place. Your dad also guessed when I wouldn't talk to anyone," Rose told him. "I met him before I started school, we were in the same library and we both admitted that we hoped we'd see each other again. He thought I might be new or went to a different school."

She promised they would tell him more when they got back and that they'd be going to see John and Sarah-Jane.

"I can't wait to meet my cousin," Jamie told her. "Has dad told my half-sister about me?"

"He's going to tell her tomorrow night Jamie," Rose promised him. "He has no idea what she'll say about it. The thing is, well things aren't so good between them, he thinks she's taken her mother's side."

"Because he's now with you?" Jamie tried to understand.

"Oh no sweetheart, it's nothing to do with him meeting me again, it started before I got here," Rose put him right. "Daisy might be as excited to meet you as you are to meet her."

Well both she and Alec hoped so anyway. She talked to her mother for a while and waited for Alec getting back.

"Leaving early again?" the chief saw him.

"No, I am leaving on time," Alec motioned towards the clock. "Staying late is not going to catch the killer any faster."

"Maybe you're right?" the chief agreed. "I might be able to get you moved to the other station."

"If that's all there is?" Alec asked him. "I need to get away from Tess but I also promised I would get away from Sandbrook."

"You promised your old girlfriend?" the chief wanted to know.

"We can't stay for long but I am doing something about finalising the divorce," Alec told him.

"Then I'm glad to hear Alec. I'll see what I can do to get you out of here the fastest," the chief promised.

Alec knew the man wouldn't go out of his way to hurry things up and moving to the other station would only half solve the problem. As he left, Tess caught the chief going back to his office.

"No Tess, I can't tell you what I discussed with Alec," he was telling her. "You're the one with the problem, do something about it, like sign the divorce papers."

"I would have thought you'd have a bit more understanding," Tess was disappointed.

"No Tess, I can't take sides. If you don't like it, stay away from him," Tess was told.

Tess thought that was easy for him to say. She had run Alec's life all this time and now he was fighting back and Dave wasn't as easy to control. All she could do now was wait and see what he meant about the Scottish court, she no longer held the upper hand and Alec knew it and now his old girlfriend was here, she couldn't even tell him he was wasting his time trying to get her back.