"We really should get going," the nurse was insisting.
"Let me read it, I may not wake up," Alec replied.
"Very well, you can read it on the way down to the theatre," the nurse relented.
"Thank you, the message is from someone very important to me," Alec admitted.
"Wife or girlfriend?" the nurse asked as she kept up with the porters.
"I wish at this present time she was my girlfriend," Alec replied after glancing at what Rose had written. "I just need to acknowledge I got her message."
They had stopped just outside the door to the operating theatre and the porter who had remained put the brakes on the bed.
Alec tried to keep from shaking his hand as he was nervous over Rose and the surgery. He managed to send a few words back to Rose – 'I wish you were with me but I will do my best to survive, for you to maybe come back?'
He sent it just as the door opened and he handed the phone to be put away with his other things.
"Don't worry Alec, you'll be fine," a male nurse was telling him as he was helped to another bed that was half folded Alec noticed as he was helped on to it. "Texting someone special then?"
Alec wished they wouldn't try and get too friendly, especially should he not survive.
"Is this going to work?" Alec asked as another nurse put a swab on his arm and had a needle in the other hand.
He thought this was just another routine operation for them.
"You'll be in the recovery room drinking tea before you even know it," the male nurse turned back to him after closing the door to the small area. "Will someone be waiting to take you home?"
"I hope so but not the person I wanted to be there," Alec replied as the needle was put in his arm.
"You never know," the male nurse laughed back. "Just relax and think of something pleasant."
Alec was just wondering if he asked Rose to come back, would she? She had only just called her wedding off. He was having trouble concentrating and all the operating team were going about their tasks, a female one taking his hand and telling him to relax. His last thought was should he survive, he had to tell Rose how he felt about her.
Rose had got back to her office and called Jake on a video call.
"You should go home," Jake agreed with what Pete had suggested. "Your dad called me to say you'd got a message from Alec Hardy. I can drive you down if you want?" he offered.
"No Jake, I'll be draggin' ya away from work," Rose replied. "Besides, it's too late to be going down there when I don't exactly know where he is."
Then she saw a grin on Jake's face.
"As if I wouldn't look it up," he then laughed, showing her what he'd written down. "Go down Rose. If he doesn't make it and no-one's there to see he's taken care of, you'll only feel guilty over it. I'll get someone to drive you down in your car if you want?"
He could see she was debating it.
"I promise they won't break any speed limits," he then joked.
"He might be gone by the time I get there," she then debated further.
"Well you're already wasting time," Jake reminded her. "I'll have someone waiting outside for you and I'll tell Pete to let your mother know."
She knew he meant it.
"I guess if he's okay they won't be able to keep him there and he'll go home? His ex wife might turn up though. No-one knew about us."
"Well, you can wait nearby until she's gone," Jake suggested, knowing she was stalling but he'd sent for one of his security team.
"I can text him if he's not at the hospital I suppose?" Rose then wondered. "If his ex is there, he can make up an excuse to send her home."
"Now you're thinking Rose," Jake laughed, waving the waiting team member into his office. "Get Rose's car and be outside in ten minutes, she's going down to Exeter," Jake told him. "Keep to the speed limits and drop Rose off at the university hospital then get the train back."
"Right you are Jake. Is she okay?" Jake was asked.
"She's visiting a friend," Jake replied.
When he was alone, he called Pete back.
"I'm glad you could persuade her," Pete was relieved. "I know putting the wedding off was something to do with her meeting Alec Hardy."
"Yeah, I don't get it though Boss, they were both okay until Jackie started going on about weddings," Jake laughed.
"Tell me about it Jake," Pete laughed back. "Jackie had no idea what she was starting. I think it was mostly John though, it seems he's not that different from his twin, doesn't it?"
"You mean when it comes to commitment?" Jake asked. "I feel sorry for poor Rose. I mean Pete, when they were here that time and Mickey's face when he saw them hugging. No wonder he never came back."
"Yeah Jake," Pete agreed. "All that time we were getting those devices to work so we could find out what the Cybermen were planning? Mickey couldn't get over there fast enough."
"Well from what John told me, he thought a certain Martha Jones had her eye on him," Jake recalled.
Tess was already on her way to Exeter, having being talked into it by an upset Daisy.
"You can't leave him on his own Mum," Daisy had told her before school started.
"Well I suppose I can take the day off?" Tess relented. "He'd better survive but I expect he's made all the arrangements?"
"Mum, is that all you're bothered about?" Daisy asked. "He doesn't deserve to be facing it alone Mum."
"Well he never said what time he was going," Tess tried to think of an excuse.
Did she still owe it to him to be there even when they were divorced?
"Mum?" Daisy pleaded with Tess. "How would you feel if dad doesn't make it?"
Tess knew her daughter was trying to make her feel guilty.
"Fine, I will just go into work and then I'll set off," Tess gave in.
"Thanks Mum. Don't leave it too late, will you?" Daisy seemed satisfied, Tess thought.
Tess had got distracted and had set off later than planned, having told Dave she was going to see Alec. Rose had got downstairs and was looking for her car.
"Hi Charlie," Rose greeted the man sat behind the wheel as he got out. "I think I'll sit in the back, I have a few things to think about. I won't be much company."
"Don't worry about it, Jake said you were visiting someone," Charlie told her.
"How are ya gettin' back?" Rose was now wondering as they set off. "Ya can wait for me if ya want? I might not get to see the person, he might have already gone home and I'll need a ride to where he lives."
"Okay, I'll do that then?" Charlie agreed, trying to think of the best way out of London other than the Sat-Nav suggestion. "Jake said it was a friend?"
"Yeah and," Rose stopped before she said Alec may not survive. "Sorry Charlie, it's just gettin' to me."
Charlie left her alone, except asking if she wanted to stop for a break then they just got a drink and took it back to the car. They got caught in some traffic but it cleared after the sign for Bournemouth and other resorts but they still had a fair way to go and Rose knew they'd get stopped again. She was hoping she'd done the right thing or she'd be getting driven back home later if Alec didn't want to see her or wasn't capable of seeing her.
She just hoped it would be due to the fact he'd not made it.
"Are you okay Miss Tyler?" Charlie glanced at her through the mirror.
"Yeah, sorry," Rose gave him a weak smile back. "John will wonder where I am I suppose, when I don't collect him after work. I'd best send him a message."
Alec was lying alone in the recovery ward, Ellie waiting outside as she'd headed to the hospital after seeing the text he'd sent her. She had called him a few choice names under her breath but had got in her car and thought she'd go tell him to his face, should he survive.
Then she wondered if who she suspected had more than kept Hardy company recently would also turn up. He had been too defensive over who had been in town for it not to have been Rose Tyler. Well good luck to him now he'd survived, she doubted Rose would want to move to a small town like Broadchurch, where she'd have no privacy at all.
"You can go in now Mrs Miller," a nurse who'd been checking on Alec went out to tell Ellie. "Don't be too long though."
Ellie had no intention of staying longer than she had to as she entered the recovery ward, seeing he was the only one there.
"I made it Miller," Alec smiled.
It was the first time Ellie had really seen him smile since he and Joe were laughing at something when Alec had been invited for dinner.
"I never expected to survive," Alec added, thinking it was a bad idea to sit up.
Then Ellie threw a bunch of grapes at him.
"Grapes?" Alec questioned her. "What did you bring grapes for again? Pass my phone."
"Really? You want to text someone? Your daughter or your mysterious girlfriend?" Ellie wanted to know.
"Never you mind. I don't expect my ex wife to turn up so someone needs to tell Daisy," he insisted. "Then you can drive me home."
"No, I have to collect Fred, I'm not taking you back to Broadchurch Hardy, I'm not a bloody taxi service, taking you all over the place," Ellie reminded him.
"It's okay, I can take him," they heard Tess saying as she entered.
"He's all yours," Ellie turned to Tess, grateful for the rescue.
"I got your medication and instructions Alec," Tess told him as Ellie stepped away while Tess pulled the curtain across. "Rest for 24 hours. I told them they'd never be able to keep you in."
"I'm glad he irritates you as well," Ellie told Tess as they left him to get dressed. "I think he was just going to text your daughter."
"Well I only came down to appease her," Tess told her. "I suppose she would have made me feel guilty had something gone wrong."
"Thanks Tess, that makes me feel a whole lot better," Alec called from behind the curtain and bringing the messages up between himself and Rose.
"I'll leave you two to it then," Ellie told her as she could see that was all Alec and Tess would do. "See you in court in a couple of days?"
"I will be there tomorrow," Alec then insisted as he sent Rose a message saying he was okay.
He heard Tess saying to Ellie she would make sure he was okay before she left him.
"Aren't you going to stay with him?" Ellie seemed surprised.
"Leave it," Alec called to her.
Ellie went off and Alec took his time getting ready while waiting for Rose to send him a text back.
Rose's own heart fluctuated when she saw Alec's message.
"How much further Charlie?" Rose asked her driver.
"Not far now, just across Exeter. Is your friend okay?" Rose was asked.
"Yeah, thanks," Rose was glad to say. "Find somewhere to park while I go inside."
"I'll try Miss Tyler. Do you know where your friend is?"
Rose had to send Alec another text and she'd wanted to surprise him. 'Who's looking after you?' she asked discreetly.
Alec had wondered what she meant by that but Tess was waiting to take him home so he just replied with 'Don't worry Rose, I'm fine'.
Rose wanted to call him but Charlie had arrived at the main road going through the city and no-one was going anywhere.
"Want me to find an alternate route?" he asked Rose.
"I think if there was one, we wouldn't be stuck?" Rose grinned back.
As they finally moved, Tess was leading Alec to her car, taking the bag from him and putting it in the back of the car.
"You shouldn't really be on your own Alec," Tess reminded him.
"Stop fussin' Tess," Alec objected as Tess closed the passenger door, Alec reaching for the seatbelt.
"Well I vouched for you to get you out," Tess further reminded him. "Besides, by the time we get back to Broadchurch and I've settled you in, it may be too late to set off home."
"Tess, I will have someone to look after me," Alec started to admit.
"You mean Ellie?" Tess smiled at the thought. "Do you know how that will look?"
"No. I do not mean Miller. I met someone who was here a week or so ago, she may be on her way now."
"Really Alec," Tess then scoffed.
"Read my text messages if you don't believe me," Alec replied, trying to get to his phone to make sure Rose knew he'd made it.
"Never mind Alec. If she's on her way to the hospital, she'll be told you left with someone. She'll probably just go home," Tess told him matter-of-factly.
"That won't be easy," Alec replied.
"She's not local?" she asked.
"No. She texted me after I came out of surgery, I think she will come to check on me, she asked who was looking after me," he admitted.
"Really Alec, getting involved with someone who doesn't even live local?" Tess mocked him.
"What of it?" Alec wanted to know as he felt the painkillers wearing off.
Tess saw the face he was pulling.
"You need to take something for the pain when you get back. Did you tell this person you were going home today?" Tess wondered.
He wasn't thinking straight but he wasn't going to admit it to Tess.
"I should send her a message," he bluffed. "Make sure she knows I'm going to be at home."
"I suppose you just want me to drop you off and leave?" Tess sounded annoyed. "Is that all the thanks I get? Are you serious about her?"
"Non of your business Tess," Alec replied as he sent the message 'I'll be at home' to Rose.
Rose got out of the car, leaving her driver to try and keep from getting caught and putting the sign top management carried with them with the Torchwood symbol and name on it on the dashboard and hoping he'd get away with it.
"I'll be as quick as I can Charlie," Rose promised as he opened the window.
"Don't worry Miss Tyler, if I get a fine, Jake will sort it out," Charlie laughed.
"Yeah but I don't want to start my collection of parking tickets here," Rose laughed back.
She was just approaching the desk as her message tone went but it was too late.
"I'm here to see Alec Hardy, he just had a pacemaker fitted," Rose told the woman at the desk.
"Up the stairs, follow the sign for the cardio unit," the woman advised Rose.
Rose thanked the woman and before going upstairs, got her phone out.
"Typical," Rose thought out loud and turning around.
Now she had to remember how to get to Alec's riverside chalet.
"Change of plans Charlie," Rose greeted her driver. "We're going to Broadchurch. Can ya drive my car back when I find out if I'm staying?"
"Sure Miss Tyler, won't you need it though?" Charlie wondered.
Rose got in the back and considered if she would or not.
"I might not have anywhere to go and I can always get local cabs if I need to. Mind you, I might have to get someone to come back for me in a few days?" Rose wondered. "Bet ya hope it's not you," she then laughed as he set off again.
"Do you know the address you're going to?" Charlie then asked, being used to Rose changing her mind.
"Ah? Just head for The George pub in Broadchurch," Rose thought was the easiest.
Rose sent Alec another message but he was sat outside talking to Daisy on Tess's phone. Tess heard his message tone and picked up his phone, seeing 'Rose' as the message sender.
"Who the hell is Rose?" Tess asked herself, seeing Alec smiling for a change as he assured Daisy he was fine.
She held the phone out to him, thinking it may be the person he was expecting to look after him. He passed Tess's phone back and took his.
"Your girlfriend?" Tess confronted him as he read the message saying Rose was heading for Broadchurch from Exeter.
"I told you Tess, she is just a friend," Alec still denied there was anything between him and Rose.
"If you say so? Well I had better set off then? Really Alec, you should have warned me beforehand that someone else might pick you up?" Tess was annoyed as she put her jacket back on.
"I did not know she would," Alec insisted as he sent a message back.
"Well I could have left you in the hospital and she would have had to vouch for you," Tess warned him.
"Hanging around to meet her?" Alec hinted, not that he wanted them to meet.
"No thanks. So where is she coming from?" Tess tried to find out.
Alec saw no sense in admitting Rose had come down from London, trying to remember if he'd already given her that information.
"She is on her way from Exeter," Alec insisted.
Tess knew he was going to evade the question.
"Forget it then Alec, if you're not going to answer properly," she told him, putting his jacket on his shoulders. "I'll get off then?"
"I appreciate you bringing me back, I honestly did not know she was going to be visiting me," he then told her.
"It's fine, Daisy insisted I checked on you, you can thank her," Tess told him.
Alec could well believe it, Tess wouldn't have checked on him otherwise. She gave him a peck on the cheek and said she'd check on him later before opening the gate and crossing the footbridge to the car park. Little did she know that a silver sports-style car that was just pulling into a parking space had Rose in the back of it.
"I'll check the parking charges," Charlie was telling Rose.
"I think it's free after six so just pay for an hour," Rose suggested, getting her purse out.
"I've got some change," Charlie looked at her through the mirror.
One thing everyone liked about Rose was that she always paid her own way. They had stopped briefly to refill the car with fuel and Rose had gone in to pay, though he expected she'd used her Torchwood credit card, also coming out with a carrier bag.
"Will you need the car?" Charlie wanted to check.
Rose had been thinking about it.
"Well, if ya sure ya can get back?" Rose wanted to be certain. "Sorry to drag ya down here, it was Jake's idea. I was all nervous about coming here."
"It's nothing to do with me Miss Tyler," Charlie insisted.
With going straight from work, Rose had very little with her. Now she wished she'd gone home first.
"There's a supermarket up on the main road, I can drive up there later," she decided. "Get Jake to pay ya back, won't ya?"
She took the key after Charlie locked the car, noticing another car driving off.
"Thanks again for bringing me," she told Charlie.
Charlie got his phone out to call a cab to take him to the nearest train station as Rose crossed the road to the gap in the wall and the footbridge over to where Alec's chalet was. Alec was still outside when he was wondering if Tess had met Rose in the car park and recognised her. Then he heard the catch on the gate and his heart was going just as fast as it had been doing before the pacemaker had been inserted.
He turned around slowly as Rose came into view as she closed the gate behind her.
"Rose," was all he said as she walked up to him.
"Hey. How are ya feeling?" Rose wanted to know, bearing in mind they were in full view of the entire harbour area so she just kissed his cheek, smelling Tess's perfume. "Someone else been visiting?"
"Just my ex wife, does that count?" Alec replied, hoping she was just teasing him.
"Had ya there," Rose just smiled, putting her arms around him from behind. "So, they couldn't keep ya in then?"