"What do you think?" he smiled back. "I really never thought I would survive."
"Well since you were diagnosed, the techniques will have improved," Rose thought. "Well, you're here."
She took him inside and he sat on the low sofa.
"Why are you here Rose?" he then asked. "I would have been okay with Tess here."
"Really? Oh, she just left?" Rose realised. "I bet that was her just leaving as I got here? I got someone to drive me down, I would have been too stressed out to come on my own."
"So you don't have your car with you?" Alec wondered, feeling the effects of the painkillers he'd taken.
"Yeah. We came in my car," Rose told him. "One of the Torchwood security team brought me. I think though that I'll pop up to the supermarket for a few things. Want anything?"
He felt like saying yes – for her to stay this time but the trial wasn't over just yet and the press would just love to find out where she was.
"No, you go, I will be fine," he assured her.
"Well I won't be long, I came straight from work, I didn't want to go home first," Rose admitted.
"Want anything to eat?" she asked as he looked pale. "I'll make ya something before I go, some toast maybe?"
Half an hour later, she was in the supermarket at the same time as Ellie was but Ellie didn't want to go up to her and have a crowd around them. Instead, Ellie placed herself behind Rose at the checkout as Fred chattered away to himself.
"Ah, he's so cute," Rose grinned as he caught her attention. "He reminds me of my younger brother."
Ellie looked up from getting Fred to stop wriggling around and recognised her. So she was back checking up on Hardy was she? Ellie thought she'd best not say anything but would love to see how they reacted around each other. She had just been to collect Fred from her sister and was already late getting home.
That was it, she was fed up of all the travelling, she was moving back and asking for a transfer. The trial had been a nightmare. Hardy had not been much of a help apart from being useful to call in on but she couldn't go barging in if he had company. Still, if he didn't turn up at the court tomorrow, she had a valid reason to be nosy and see if Rose was staying with him.
"Say hello Fred," Ellie tried to encourage the boy, since his favourite word at the moment was 'Hardee'.
"Hey Fred, nice to meet ya," Rose laughed as she moved forward with her shopping trolley. "Have ya been shopping with your mum?"
Young Fred just giggled and nodded his head.
"Excuse me for asking but did ya used to work with Alec Hardy?" Rose then asked Ellie.
"Yeah. Ah, you're the friend who was with him a few weeks ago?" Ellie dared asked as Rose put her shopping on the conveyor belt
"Well yeah, I came to check on him," was all Rose would admit.
"It's okay, I know where he was today," Ellie also admitted. "I would have brought him back but I had to get Fred from my sister's."
"Well call in sometime, I'm here for a few days," Rose offered as the operator was scanning her purchases.
"I'm sure he doesn't want to see me," Ellie replied.
"Well he'll be out of it for a few days," Rose smiled as she moved away.
So Rose was staying with Hardy, she'd just admitted it. Ellie didn't suppose if there was a second bedroom that Rose would be using it.
When Rose got back, Alec was laid on the sofa with his long legs stretching over the arm. He opened his eyes when he heard Rose bringing the shopping inside. She had got two ready-made salads and they were soon eating together on the sofa.
"I'll have to borrow a t-shirt tonight," Rose told him. "I'll go up into the town tomorrow. Where's your key?"
She thought she'd best get it now before he went to bed. She was tired herself with all the anxiety on the way down.
"Rose, I am glad you came," Alec had to admit. "I can't guarantee no-one will see you though."
"I think I met Ellie Miller in the supermarket," Rose told him. "She said she'd pop in tomorrow night, I expect you'll want to know what happened in court?"
"I could go see for myself," Alec tried to bluff.
"Well tough, ya can have a rest tomorrow," Rose had to smile.
Neither of them knew that the chalet was being watched by a certain Lee Ashworth, who had found out where Alec was living and was convinced he was hiding Claire. Then he'd seen two different women going inside and Hardy sitting outside on a chair. One woman had left after a short time, then another one had turned up, who if he wasn't mistaken looked like it was that Rose Tyler but what would she be doing there?
One thing though, now someone else was here, it was going to be difficult to confront the detective. He had planned on breaking in and seeing what he could find out but that may have to be scrapped. Something looked different about Hardy though but he couldn't put his finger on it. He went to move his van to drive back to where a farmer had been letting him sleep in a barn where he was doing some fencing work to plan how he was going to step up trying to scare Claire into revealing where she was.
He knew she'd give herself away, even if she went crawling to Alec Hardy, which was doubtful if he'd taken up with the Vitex heiress.
Rose insisted Alec got ready for bed even though it was now just after nine. She wasn't going to wake him early in the morning except to make sure he took his medication and had something to eat and drink. She got into bed beside him as he moved up as far as he could go.
"How long are you staying again?" he wanted to make sure.
"A few days. Alec, remember I told ya that John might be leaving?" she asked him.
"Vaguely," he tried to recall as she let him put his arm around her. "Remind me?"
"I told ya about the project he was working on? I've hardly seen him recently. He never says how it's going, how near he is to being ready to try it. I think it won't be that long to be honest."
"I'm sorry Rose. Is he doing that because you called the wedding off?" Alec wondered.
"Yeah, though he's not saying. We've not even talked about it really."
"Rose, stay here then?" he offered as he felt tired.
"I can't Alec, ya know why," Rose replied.
"No Rose, I cannot understand why if you say John is going away why you won't stay," Alec told her.
He tried to lay on his back but there wasn't enough room and he'd have to climb over Rose to pace the small bedroom.
"I'll stay tomorrow Alec, to make sure you're okay," Rose promised.
"Rose, why are you so reluctant?" Alec wanted to know. "Have I not made it plain enough that I want you to stay? The trial will be over in a few days, if he gets off or not will have no impact on us."
"I thought ya were gonna go see Daisy?" Rose tried to change the subject.
"I could see her while you go back home to pack," Alec suggested. "You could drop me off on your way home if you wait until after the trial."
"John may go before I get back," Rose then realised. "I need to be there when he goes."
"Goes where Rose? Why are you being so secretive?" Alec wanted to know.
"I swear I've told ya all I can Alec," Rose told him, leaning into him even more.
He put his head on her shoulder, nudging her hair away.
"Who am I going to tell eh?" he asked. "You said something about exploring other worlds? What do you mean by that?"
"Alec, don't, please," she urged him not to push her. "All I can tell ya is it's what the Cybermen used to escape, a team's been working on it and when John got involved, he put everything into it."
"Why? Oh, maybe because he comes from there?" Alec guessed.
Rose knew he'd keep digging away at it, to understand why she had to leave.
"Rose, are you going with him?" Alec suddenly backed away.
"What? No, I'm not leaving my family. I never said I was going with him," Rose denied.
"Not even to get back yourself?" he wanted to know.
Rose tried to sit up, which wasn't easy.
"What?" Rose repeated herself, thinking she was as bad as The Doctor.
"You can admit it to me, who am I going to tell?" Alec asked her. "It makes sense that's where you come from, that you were involved with all that to do with the Cybermen."
"I need to clear it with my stepfather," Rose replied as she hugged her knees, Alec propping himself up carefully.
"Then please do so, tomorrow morning," Alec agreed. "You all come from a parallel world then?"
"Do ya think that makes us aliens?" Rose wanted to test him.
"Certainly not, you are as real as anyone," Alec confirmed, touching her arm, which made Rose shiver. "Don't be alarmed, come back here."
"John will use it to get back, he wants to find his twin," Rose told him. "That's what made us drift apart."
"Oh, he thinks you still want his twin?" Alec asked, trying to remember what she'd told him before she had left.
"Yeah, ya could say that? He never admitted it though. He wants some answers, such as him being here with me. Alec, he's wrong to think I want his twin here, not him."
"That would seem to explain why he has backed off?" Alec wondered, looking at her in the light filtering through the wooden blind.
"Did I tell ya that he didn't even seem bothered about calling the wedding off?" Rose replied.
"Yes, which seemed strange," Alec agreed. "Are you sure you are not rushing things?"
"No, what am I rushing?" Rose wanted to know. "I came to see if ya were okay."
"I appreciate your concern Rose but you can't stay. Not until the trial is over," Alec reminded her.
"I'm only gonna be miserable back home," Rose replied.
"There is nothing I can do, I have to see it through after all that has happened," he also reminded her.
Rose huddled up to him, Alec putting both arms around her and they kissed for a while.
"I'll stay tomorrow," Rose promised.
"Don't leave like this Rose, not until we settle things?" he asked her.
"It's always gonna be like this Alec," Rose replied sadly.
"I was hoping you would come back when the trial is over?" he dared ask. "If you need more time, then I understand."
Rose wondered if he really did understand though.
"It's not that Alec. You know the press follow me everywhere," she reminded him.
"I can handle the press," he insisted. "If that is all that's stopping you? Are you really thinking of going with him?"
"I said I wasn't Alec, at one time I would have done but not now I have my little brother to think about, I know what it's like. At least until he's old enough to understand anyway."
"What if you had someone to keep you here for longer?" Alec wanted to know. "Would that also make a difference? Why is he in such a hurry to leave?"
"I can't explain Alec but he feels it's the right time," was all Rose would admit.
"I think there is more to it," Alec replied, kissing her forehead. "Would you get permission to tell me more?"
"I'll ask but I can't unless dad's alone," Rose told him. "He won't say anything. I have to speak to John though but not on the phone."
"You said that last time," Rose was reminded. "Just how much do you owe him Rose?"
"It's complicated Alec, without telling ya the whole story," Rose admitted.
"Then get permission," Alec insisted, wanting to get this sorted before he went to sleep but he was fighting to stay awake.
"I will Alec, I promise I'll explain it to ya," Rose had to promise, knowing he should be resting and he'd probably be out of it tomorrow anyway.
"Well no leaving until I know it all," he further insisted.
Rose knew Pete would only let her tell Alec so much without making him a limited member of Torchwood. Would Alec want to be part of it and learn the truth? They fell asleep and Rose was woken just before eight by a tapping on the door. She looked through the wooden blinds and saw a woman in a business suit standing on the decking.
She pulled on her jeans and found the key and opened it cautiously.
"Oh, is Alec Hardy not here?" Rose was asked.
"Oh. Well actually he had surgery yesterday, he's still recovering," Rose had to tell the woman.
"Finally?" the woman queried. "Not before time either. I'm Maggie, from the paper, he disappeared from court yesterday afternoon. I just wanted to get his insight into how the trial is going."
"Well I expect he'll be out of it today," Rose told her.
"Fine, I won't bother him then. You look very familiar," Maggie then told Rose.
"I'm just a friend looking after him," Rose tried to play it down. "I'll tell him you called when he wakes up."
Maggie went on her way, Rose still not noticing a figure had taken up position across the river and was watching Alec's cottage again. Lee Ashworth was wondering if the detective would go out again today and this time, he'd make it look like someone had broken in and he'd look through any papers lying around for any clues the detective knew where Claire was.
Lee thought he may as well try Claire again, she might be tempted to answer this time. Claire was wondering if it would be worthwhile turning up at the court again but somehow doubted it would do any good.
Rose was sitting by the river later in the afternoon when the catch on the gate made her jump. She could only guess it was someone who knew Alec but hoped his ex wife hadn't come back to check on him.
"Oh, is Alec not up then?" Rose was asked.
"I was gonna wake him soon," Rose replied as she got up. "So you are? We weren't formally introduced before."
"Ellie Miller, I used to work with him," Ellie tried not to get flustered but this was definitely Rose Tyler, Hardy couldn't deny it this time around, never mind 'A friend' who was looking after him.
She was sure she'd told Rose the day before.
"Well come in then," Rose called behind her.
She closed the bedroom door as far as it would go then climbed onto the bed, Alec stirring.
"You are the best thing I could ever see when I wake up," he told her as he propped himself up on one elbow. "Why can't you stay?"
"Alec, we have company," Rose warned him as he reached up for a kiss, which Rose couldn't deny him. "Ellie Miller."
"What's she doing here?" Alec asked, louder this time.
"Hello to you too Hardy," Ellie snapped back.
"I'll make some drinks then? I popped over to the store earlier, fancy something to eat?" she then asked him.
"I'm sure I can manage something light," Alec agreed, going to grab hold of her.
"Watch it, that bedroom door leaves a lot to be desired," Rose then warned him. Then she leaned down and whispered, "I'll stay if ya changing out of that t-shirt though," she teased him.
Ellie could only guess what was going on when it suddenly went quiet so she went into the kitchen to fill the kettle with water, then after flipping the switch on, she went to sit on the doorstep. She thought they could well be a while before they emerged. Then she wondered why Rose was getting flirty with her ex boss when she had only recently called her wedding off.
Then Ellie thought maybe the famous heiress had come for some peace and quiet before her wedding, stumbled into Hardy, who had been sickly but they'd obviously started something and now Rose had come back to settle any unfinished business.
They emerged ten minutes later, Alec having lost his t-shirt and they had kissed for a while.
"Rose, we need a serious talk," he tried to tell her before they left the bedroom. "Things are different now."
"About time," Ellie muttered to herself as she made some tea.
"No-one told you to call in," Alec replied as Rose handed a mug to him.
"Manners Alec," Rose laughed. "I'm sure she only came to tell ya what was going on at court."
Ellie eventually left and Rose made a quick meal then they walked to the end of the stone pier and sat down, Rose leaning on his shoulder. He took her hand, seeing her ring had left a mark.
"Why did you come back Rose?" he then wanted to know. "Have you split from him yet?"
"I told ya he was going away Alec," Rose reminded him. "He's gettin' ready, I know he is, he's been all secretive and never mentioned it. When I go back, I'm packing and going back to my mum's."
Alec thought that was at least a start he supposed.
"So is it just too soon, to come and live down here with me?" he asked.
"I don't know Alec. I only came down because I got your message. How would I have felt if I'd not come down and something bad had happened to ya?" Rose replied.
He was tempted to say that was Tess's excuse for showing up. At least he knew Rose meant it but it wasn't enough, not now.
"So, you go back until he leaves then?" he had to know.
"Alec, I wish ya could understand," Rose replied softly.
"So, you were engaged to him but you were the one to break if off, yes?" Alec wanted to make sure. "Why is it so important you stay until he goes back? Oh, are you still tempted to go with him?"
He dropped the arm that was around her, making Rose move. If she didn't quit this loyalty she would not only lose the other man she loved but she'd lose Alec as well. He may not welcome her back then next time, he could leave town and not tell her where he was going, although it would be a safe bet it would be to see his daughter.
"Alec, don't think that. I was, at one time but I have my family to think about. He doesn't know if he'll get back or not, he could miscalculate and he ends up some place else. Then no-one will be able to find him," Rose tried to explain.
"Then see him off, if you need to," Alec finally had to agree. "Please Rose, I don't want to fight you on this but you may not find me here next time."