The next morning, Rose tried not to wake her new boyfriend but failed, since he was used to waking up thinking he was drowning all over again.

"Alec, ya don't have to get up with me," Rose insisted just before five.

"Well I have to hand that report to the chief before your friend arrives," he replied, getting on his knees to put his arms around her as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Well that's not for hours yet, I told ya, this is why I never bothered with a boyfriend, I'd either have to kick 'em out or sneak out of their place. No wonder Joe Miller left when they had two kids, it must have been hard on Tom as well. Alec, did ya interview Tom, about Danny?"

"No, should I have done?" he asked, moving since Rose was getting up. "You think he could tell me something?"

"Well yeah, he's a teenager, of course he can tell ya something," Rose laughed as she grabbed her clean underwear. "You're not moving out of the hotel, are ya?"

"Not until I see what the chief has to say love," he replied, waiting for her to move since she'd cleared a drawer for him. "Hopefully, your statement will satisfy her and as long as nothing is added to it, we should be able to still see each other but she suggested I officially keep the hotel room for now."

"Well ya said they were paying for it so it's their loss. Need the bathroom first?" she asked.

"No love, I can wait, I'll make you a quick breakfast and Rose, you be careful, okay? If your friend gets a hint you've talked about her husband, he'll get to know but now, how am I going to get her to bring her son in?"

He guessed he would just have to make it seem like they were running out of ideas and were calling in anyone who knew Danny. He knew it wouldn't go down well, not after the other night. What did Miller expect though? That her family were exempt? He'd had to interview his now girlfriend, Miller would have to accept with Tom being Danny's friend that he would also have to be interviewed.

Great, now he had to tell Miller after facing the chief about Rose and if it went badly, he'd be in a worse mood than usual.

Rose got to work with ten minutes to spare, even though she had to put up with Lucas again and she thought he worked worse hours than she did but she'd got lucky with Alec just accepting it.

"You look tired Rose," Steven commented as they got ready.

"Yeah, I had to go give another interview last night, so Alec can judge what his boss thinks about us seeing each other. She'd better not stop us. I even got upset I thought it was Friday today."

"Well I wouldn't like to be her if she does," Steven joked. "Never mind, another day off tomorrow, you two should sneak out of town for the day."

"How? We'd have to get a bus, since they closed the railway station however long ago it was. Do they think everyone has a car?" she asked.

Steven smiled to himself that she looked slightly happier since she took up with the town's new DI. He was though disappointed there would be no more of them trying to get the better of each other, it had been the highlight of his day watching them complain about each other. Now he'd have to find something else for amusement.

Even though it was Saturday, the chief had deemed to go to her office just to sort out Alec's problem but she wasn't happy about it as Alec sat there after handing the folder over.

"Really Alec, that incident should have been reported. She works for the emergency services, if no-one else bothered, she should have done and she should have reported him to the supervisor."

"She was friends with his wife, what was she supposed to do?" Alec wanted to know. "Anyway, you have the name now, so what happens next?"

He thought she'd best not try to impose a ban on him seeing Rose.

"Well since no harm was done at the time, I expect it's too late to give them both a warning on causing a public affray? These smaller incidents though, him threatening his wife's nephew?"

"Have you met the nosy town reporter?" Alec wanted to know, seeing why the reporter was so unpopular first hand.

"Not personally Alec. This bit though about Rose Tyler saying Joe Miller used her as an excuse for being late back? Maybe he never really thought she would have the nerve to object, since he was doing her a favour going out of his way?"

"Really?" Alec asked. "He may have done but she never asked him to wait and get in a fight after going through a red light, did she?"

"I thought it was amber?" the chief corrected him.

"It was changing, he should have stopped if it was safe to do so but she states it happened so fast, she thought he was going to stop. It was his decision to break traffic regulations. He probably had got so used to doing so driving the ambulance," Alec replied.

"Yes, well, I expect most of the police drivers do that?" the chief half smiled. "I see no relevance at this time that he was involved in Danny's death though Alec. He may have run a red light and showed violent tendencies but until we have more on how Danny died? Leave it with me Alec, I can assure you I won't mention this to DS Miller."

"Yes, well about her, her son was Danny's friend, I think it's time he was interviewed. Danny may have been worried about something or mentioned if he had made any new friends lately."

"Alec, in case you had forgotten, the Millers were away the weeks leading up to Danny's death. If you somehow think her husband had anything to do with it, it's pure speculation. I think you should just come out and ask her to bring her son in, before you ask her if her husband was in all that night when they got back. Good luck with that though."

"It has to done, she can't pick and choose. So about Rose Tyler then?" he asked.

"You want to know if you can still see each other? Alec, keep the room at the hotel and don't tell anyone you are considering moving in with her – for now. Let's see where this goes? You said she was worried though?"

"She is but if DS Miller does not know she made a statement, even if Joe Miller finds out we are involved, he'll have no reason to think she's talked about him. It was a few years ago, maybe he has even forgotten about it? By the way, is there any chance of getting a car?"

"You never asked before Alec," the chief replied as she put the folder in her desk drawer. "Just for the weekend or longer? Someone will be upset come Monday morning, especially if you still choose to let someone else drive you around. Are you still wanting to find out who that other driver was?"

"Maybe? I can get someone to do it quietly. You think Joe Miller is entirely innocent in Danny's death?"

"I'm not saying that Alec. Just tread carefully, his wife did not take kindly to you taking her job, remember?" the chief smiled.

"Yes, all too well. Not only did she start on the beach over Danny's body but she's never stopped since. This is why I want her and Rose Tyler to remain friends. Having them falling out over something Rose reported is not ideal, it will affect how DS Miller works with me, at callouts if Rose is part of the ambulance crew."

"I heard she drove behind the procession the other night," the chief told him. "That was a nice touch, since they were called out that morning. Alec, I know you two will keep meeting up at incidents but try not to let your personal lives get in the way?"

Alec nodded and got up, going to his office and hoping Miller wasn't waiting for him after the day they'd had the previous Saturday. He began to wonder why Rose hadn't asked if he'd re-booked his surgery yet but there had been a lot going on so he resolved to do it on Monday morning. He had to be seen doing something about it, he couldn't keep depending on Rose to save his ass every time, even though they were now lovers.

He called the garage and told the traffic officer on duty he wanted a car waiting for him at twelve. Then he was going up to the supermarket, get something nice to make later since Rose was finishing early or maybe he should surprise her and they'd drive across into Devon and find a nice seafront hotel somewhere?

He looked at the town's map on the computer screen and made a note where the ambulance station was and the postcode, if the car he was borrowing had a satnav, which it should do and go meet her at around two and surprise her. Then they could pack a few things and set off, it would be nice surprise for her.

While he was planning that, he didn't see Ellie go to her desk.

"What are you doing in today?" Ellie asked him as her curiosity got the better of her.

"Catching up, same as you probably," he replied, taking his specs off. "I need to interview your son Miller, see if Danny confided anything in him, two teenagers, well almost teenagers would have had plenty to talk about."

Ellie stared at him.

"You're serious? Tom's already upset about the other night – Sir," she replied.

"Sit down Miller. What do you want from this investigation eh? Yes, I am being serious, we need to speak to him if Danny told him the slightest thing that may lead us to his killer. By the way, the night you got back from holiday, did Tom meet Danny?" he asked, trying the indirect method.

"No, none of us went out. Oh, Joe went out to get some basic groceries, milk, eggs and bread but he was only half an hour. I unpacked, loaded the washing machine and I was in bed by eight. I get terrible jet-lag, I have these sleeping pills I take."

"So you never woke until the next morning?" Alec wanted to know.

Ellie thought it was a bit of a stupid question.

"That was point in taking them – Sir. Then I get to work, find out I didn't get my promotion and had to face you on the beach and if that wasn't bad enough, my best friend's son was lying there face down and my other friend was arguing with you."

Alec remembered that only too well. Had it only been a week since he and Rose had still been arguing at every opportunity? They'd still been arguing on Monday outside the newsagents and only made peace the other night and he was considering moving in with her. Was he the one who was scared of collapsing again or was that just her?

"Sir?" Ellie questioned him as he looked miles away. "Are you still seeing Rose?"

"What? Yes, she does not work for the police, Miller, we are both single and no, her work hours have not made me forget it. Anyway, have your husband or an adult bring Tom in on Monday morning, arrange a time. Maybe something was bothering Danny and he told Tom?"

"I think Tom would have told me or his dad if that was the case," Ellie replied.

Alec doubted if Tom told his dad, Joe Miller would be likely to say anything. Getting Joe to bring Tom would kill two birds with one stone and save him time. He could covertly interview Joe at the same time and he'd never suspect, would he?

"Anyone else we should re-interview?" Alec asked Ellie as she got up. "Anyone not having an alibi for that night, we should arrange to get them back in. Are you going to the church again tomorrow?"

"I was thinking about it. What about you?" Ellie replied.

"I think I may take Rose out of town for the day, she's had a lot to deal with, she's still upset at finding him, that's why she was driving the other night. She felt she had to do so. When she worked with your husband, did he do all the driving?" he dared ask, thinking it was a simple question he'd get away with.

"When Joe's in a car or an ambulance, he hates being a passenger. Besides, I don't think Rose had passed her test back then. Whenever I've seen her and Steven, he's mostly been driving. Maybe Rose just got used to it?"

"Maybe? I never asked her. Speaking of alibis Miller, could your husband have gone out again after you went to bed?"

Ellie looked like she wanted to slap him.

"The boys were asleep, he'd never go out and leave them when I'd taken those pills. Are we getting that desperate you're asking about officer's husbands?" she asked him.

"Nothing of the sort Miller and if I was, I'd be asking every officer, not just you. I have work to finish, I want to meet Rose at two and surprise her, since I commandeered a car, at least for the weekend."

Ellie was surprised to hear he could actually drive so what was he doing getting her to do it all?

"When were you going to tell me you could drive?" Ellie almost laughed.

"The subject never came up Miller. I just want to take her off somewhere, she's still haunted by last Friday morning. I've tried to get her to seek help, she said she might go see the vicar about it."

"Well I hope she does but she's seen fatal accidents before, I'm surprised this one got to her so much."

So was Alec, when he thought about it. Why was this one so heavy on her mind?

Rose and Steven were taking a break down by the harbour. It was quite busy, considering what had happened only a week or so ago but Rose had remarked people will be nosy. She was about to nip into the pub to use the restroom when Olly had seen them. He was still puzzled to Alec's attitude towards him about the young paramedic.

"Rose," he called after her as she was outside the pub.

"Go away Olly, I need the ladies room. Go find someone else to annoy, I'm not going out with ya."

"I'm not asking you to but are you seeing Alec Hardy?" he grinned.

"Do you want a slap on the face Olly Stevens?" Rose replied, hoping Steven wouldn't get a call or she'd have to cross her legs when she got back to the ambulance.

"So you are then? Why be so secretive about it?" Olly wanted to know.

Rose stepped back, since some people were coming out of the pub.

"Maybe because we're both in the emergency services and we have to work together?" Rose suggested.

"Right. So you're not deny anything?" he asked as Rose tried to escape.

"Have you actually spoken to DI Hardy about it?" Rose wanted to know, glancing across as Steven put his sunglasses on. Olly remained silent. "Then back off Olly, there are more important things to report than if we are or not. If ya wanna know, you'll just have to wait until all this dies down. Now excuse me, I really have to go and I'd think twice about writing anything, if he catches you."

As she got back in the ambulance, Steven never said anything but by the grin on his face, Rose knew he wanted to. He did say something when they got back just before two and they passed a black SUV parked on the road and he'd seen a flicker of a smile on Rose's face as she realised it was Alec.

"So, he hired a car then?" Steven teased her. "Looks like a police vehicle."

"Maybe he just borrowed it for the weekend?" Rose wondered as they got out.

She glanced back to see Alec had got out and was wearing a pair of rather sexy blue sunglasses that she thought he had no business in his condition he should look so sexy in them. Was he trying to set her up for a heart attack or what?

"I can finish up here Rose, you go book off," Steven told her as Alec got closer. "Good afternoon, inspector, I can see you recovered from your little bump the other night?"

"Yes, thanks to the both of you for your prompt attention," Alec replied as Rose disappeared inside.

"Well I was just doing my job but I don't know about your new girlfriend?" Steven laughed as he went to check everything was in order for the next crew.

Alec just raised his eyebrows in agreement, maybe Rose had gone that little bit further with it being him, since he didn't think she made a habit of spending the night at a hospital bedside then the night after have him in her own bed. How had it happened so quickly?

"Hi, did you borrow a car or is it a rental?" Rose greeted him after she got changed and he'd gone back to the car.

"I borrowed it but if you like it, I could see about keeping it maybe? Anyway, I thought we could go pack a bag and drive over into Devon for the rest of the weekend? What do you say love?"

"That you shouldn't be driving?" she teased him as she got in beside him. "So how was your morning?"

"Just peachy love. I may have rattled Joe Miller's cage."

"I thought ya were tryin' to avoid that?" she asked as he turned around, thankful he'd been given an automatic.

"I just asked your friend to bring her son for an interview and thought I could get her husband at the same time? Maybe I will get lucky and there will be some tell-tale signs?"

"Geez Alec, ya'd better be careful about it. We didn't want him to know I'd talked to ya, remember?"

"I know that love," he replied as they neared Rose's apartment, thinking she was wasting her money on taxi cabs but he couldn't be there to pick her up all the time. "Think about it Rose, it's the ideal opportunity, to see his reaction. This way, he won't think you have said anything."

"Well I hope so. Good thing a parking spot came with the apartment, I've got a sticker upstairs, you'd best put it on the dashboard though visitors tend to use it, which I should say something about now. Ya don't wanna come back and have to arrest someone for parking there," she joked.

"I would if they took the space when there was visitor parking," he replied.

Rose believed he would as they went upstairs. Just over an hour later, they were driving into Sidmouth and Rose had been looking up places to stay and had found a little guest house on the seafront.

"I bet ya can see Broadchurch from here?" Rose wondered as he pulled into a driveway.

"Probably love but I thought we could use the time away from the place, yes?"

"Yeah, it was a nice thought Alec, thanks. Shame I couldn't do a booking online though, it was a bit short notice."

"Never mind. Leave everything in the car for now, then when we book in, we can go get a snack maybe? I was thinking of just getting something nice to cook then I had a better idea."

"Well I'm glad ya did, it's been ages since I went anywhere, not counting going home of course but my mum comes down more than I go up there, she uses any excuse to visit. Oh, I've not told her about us properly yet, sorry."

"That's understandable love, I know you are no longer trying to hide me," he smiled as they went inside.

Alec paid for a nice double room facing the sea and went to get their bags while the landlady showed Rose where the room was, since it was a maze and Rose thought the guest house was somehow bigger on the inside. She heard Alec downstairs and called to him where she was as she waited on the corner.

"Did she ask any questions?" Rose asked as he closed the door.

Alec shook his head as he put the bags on the bed.

"No love but had she done, I would have got my police ID out."

Ellie had got home and broken the news to Tom, about needing to answer some questions and she noticed her husband was less keen about it than she was.

"Is that really necessary?" Joe asked her when they left Tom in his room, Fred in his cot having a nap.

"Well my new boss seems to think so. He also wants to re-interview all those without an alibi that night as well. I thought we would have got somewhere by now but it's so slow, waiting for evidence to be processed. Why did whoever killed Danny have to pick such a public place to leave him? There's tons more to go through than there would have been."

Joe went to put his arms round Ellie.

"When you say those without an alibi, I hope that didn't include me?" he grinned.

"Well, I don't know about that," Ellie teased him. "Guess what? Rose and my new boss finally got their acts together and stopped fighting at callouts. He was in this morning, borrowed a car and he's taken her off for the rest of the weekend. This time last week, they couldn't stand being in the same space. I wonder what happened?"

"Well they won't tell us, will they? So who's taking Tom for his interview? You'll have to get someone to watch Fred."

"I can get a WPC to watch him in the other family room but Hardy may not want me there anyway, you'll have to do it. Maybe when all this dies down a bit, we can get Olly in overnight and we can sneak off somewhere?"

"Promises," Joe laughed.

Ellie couldn't see the look on his face as they hugged or that he was thinking Rose, his old work partner, who had witnessed him losing his temper several times, including the supermarket car park was now involved with the lead detective on the case.