Mickey had set off back to his hotel. He was about to get out of his car and thought about just going over to the shop and confronting Rose where he knew she would be on her own. He thought better of it, she would be straight on the phone to Hardy before he got in the door because the Police Station was just around the corner. He could go wait outside her house, wait for her to come home. It would take Hardy some time to get to her, he'd have a chance to talk to her at least, try to make her see what a big mistake she was making. He was disappointed he couldn't dig up any dirt but she wouldn't know that, would she? She probably hadn't even checked up on this bloke, blinded by him.
If Jake had known about him he would have checked up but might not have told Rose. Yes, he thought, that might just work. I could plant the seeds of doubt in her mind, just enough to niggle her, get her wondering. It wouldn't take much, he knew what she was like. Ask her questions even, like did she know he was married or divorced? Did he have kids? Did he have a bitchy ex-wife who would be seeking vengeance on her? Did he have any health problems? Would his ex dump kids on her? What was his work record? Had he any failed any cases?
The ideas were flowing like a waterfall and he was feeling very pleased with himself. He didn't need internet information after all, he'd get it all from Rose. He would have her so full of doubt, she wouldn't know which way to turn and beg Mickey to help her. Yes! It was still early afternoon, he thought he'd seen a sign in the shop that it closed at 4pm and crossed the road to get a late lunch then he'd drive to Rose's house to wait for her outside her door. Little did he know her house was in the middle of the homes of two senior Police Officers.
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Alec had remained worried about his beloved Rosie all day. He hoped she would be ok. He'd received a text from her containing her usual innuendos and sent her some back. He thought it would put a smile on her face. He knew she had her own ways of protecting herself, she could get support from Torchwood any time she wanted, Jake and Pete were just a phone call away. He knew she'd only use them when things got out of hand. The day went fairly quickly, he'd gone out a couple of times with Ellie on petty callouts that according to him didn't warrant two senior Officers. Still it got them out in the fresh air for a while and he'd needed it.
Ellie went off as usual, leaving Alec with nothing to do but sit back with his arms behind his head wondering how Rose was doing. It was just gone 4pm, he still had over an hour to go. He could make some tea, no he didn't like the blend they used and should take his own after all this time. He could try to send a message to his daughter again for the 500th time, her inbox should be full by now, he thought. He could use his computer for personal reasons and look at maybe he and Rose finding a place together rather than move into one or the others' house, that would be nice, he thought, choosing a house together. He'd only had a flat with his ex before splitting and moving out to a place even worse, even had the same flat when his daughter came along.
It would take Rose's mind off things, move them along with their plans. Crikey, he thought, we never got back round to discussing it yesterday after what happened and now he was making plans for the both of them. He liked the idea. Making plans with his sweet Rose. It was something he never thought he would do again, making plans to live with the woman he loved. He felt for certain she felt the same but he should wait and discuss it with her first before making any final decisions. Still, no harm in looking online at a few places, was there? If he wanted, he could use the laptop for his own use, it was in the Police Forces' interest after all to make sure he had adequate accommodation for his current situation. Plus he had saved them a fortune when he moved out of the hotel and got his own place.
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Rose had a fairly uneventful day as well after her phone call to Jake. She wondered if Alec could get away for lunch but thought he'd be busy. She knew he would call round if he could. They had agreed quite early in their relationship that Alec would only call on Saturday lunchtime and the odd weekday lunchtime and she would only call in at the Police Station if he asked her to meet him there. She thought though that since he'd had reason to be worried about her he might have checked in on her or sent Ellie but she thought maybe they'd had other things to do. She wasn't exactly on the high priority protection list yet.
She locked up as normal, went by the supermarket to pick something nice for dinner and drove home. Alec had conned her into cooking though she was sure it was his turn so she said she'd compromise and go to his house again and cook there. Then he could help her when he got home. She loved the thought that he was coming home to her, she'd never had anyone doing that before. Her youth had been filled with boyfriends that used her for some reason or another, she'd never had anyone around like Alec before and had not had the attention thrown her way like he did. He didn't need to buy her flowers and gifts though he always brought her a single rose if they went out somewhere where they had them for sale. He had bought her plenty of bottles of wine they had shared when it was their turn to be at her house. She hoped tonight over dinner that they would be able to discuss their moving in together. She was 100 percent certain that was what she wanted and hoped he felt the same.
Her face dropped as she drove around the corner of her street Mickey's car was parked outside her house. She stopped just past the corner. She couldn't see Ellie's car so assumed she was busy with the boys. Alec was still at work, he'd be almost another hour. She sat with her hands on the wheel and the engine still running, not knowing what to do. Phone Alec? Phone Jake and get him to call Mickey and tell him to leave? If she phoned Alec the entire Police force would be there in five minutes flat. She was silently praying that Ellie would turn up, she would try the more subtle approach like threaten to let down his car tyres.
Sitting there was getting nothing done. His car was blocking her driveway and she would block Ellie's if she pulled up in front of him. She either stayed where she was or pull in front of Alec's. She couldn't let Mickey know he lived there. She went for the latter, pulling in behind Mickey's car. She pulled out her mobile where she could get to it easily if needed. She got out and reached into the back seat to retrieve her groceries. Mickey just sat there. She walked past his car and down her driveway. She was tempted to tell him to get lost and that he was parked in her way. She didn't.
Just then the driver's door opened and he got out and he called over to her.
"Can we at least talk Rose?"
"I asked Alec to tell you I don't want to talk to you Mickey, why are you here?"
"Please Rose, just listen to what I have to say."
Rose put here groceries on the kitchen doorstep, he followed up the drive.
"You have two minutes then I'm calling Alec so make it fast."
She knew he'd be mad even giving two minutes for Mickey to explain why he was there.
"Rose do you really know what you're getting yourself into. I mean, come on, admit it, you only like him 'cos he looks like the Doctor," he laughed. "Same face, bit scruffy, come on, do you really know anything about him? You're just using him as a substitute and you know it, bet he's got a ex or a wife or girlfriend somewhere with a load of kids. He might be a Detective Inspector but exactly what's a Scot doing in a backwater town like this if he's that good, eh, has he been demoted or something? He wouldn't be here by choice, going out with a girl who's what, 15 years his junior. He's just using you Rose to make him look and feel good."
Rose glared at him, horrified he could resort to such low tactics, what the hell had come over him? This wasn't the Mickey she used to know, the same person who she used to go out with. This was a mean and nasty version of him and she couldn't understand what had made him like this. Was he so jealous he could only come up with this load of trash? Mickey was stood a few feet away from her. It would take her a few seconds to open the door and lock it behind her before he could stop her to come out with more pathetic statements. They were ludicrous to say the least. He had failed to get real information on Alec so he'd resorted to this and it failed to impress her. But what would his reaction be if she tried to get inside? Alec's number was on speed dial on her phone, one button and even if she didn't say a word, he'd be there in less than five minutes, two if he sent a squad car and then followed it but she didn't want to waste Police resources on the now loser standing there.
"Mickey, you're pathetic, really," she laughed before she cried. "Who do you think you're fooling?"
She was turning the tables on him. She'd had enough practice in her time. She could argue with the best of them because Jackie Tyler was her mother and like mother, like daughter.
"Why don't you save yourself the embarrassment and leave now eh? Because I promise you, if you are still here when Alec comes round, I won't be responsible."
She wasn't going to let on Alec lived next door or about Ellie.
Mickey took one step closer.
"Listen Rose, I know things about him, I've read about him. He's a loser, Rose and he's just using you. He failed in Scotland and now he's hiding away hoping he won't get noticed by blending in and having a girlfriend. Rose, he's got to be at least 15 years older than you. It was bad enough you went chasing after a 900 year old alien but come on, a Doctor look-alike who's a failed Police Detective, please, just look at yourself, you're making a fool of yourself Rose, he's only after one thing to get you into bed, have a load of kids with you and brag about it to his mates and treat you like a trophy."
With that Rose leapt forward and slapped him as hard as she could right across his face leaving a red mark and while he rubbed it, she opened her door as she had fished out her key while he'd been talking, picked up her bags and had closed the door in about 15 seconds flat. She'd had her mobile in her hand ready to press Alec's number while she'd been scoffing at Mickey's remarks and as she slapped him with one hand, the finger on her other pressed the button. She'd not needed to say anything, they had long arranged Rose's signal to Alec and if he got a silent call from her, he'd drop everything he was doing, regardless and would be there in five minutes if he knew she was at home otherwise she would be at the shop and she would go next door and wait for him or he'd trace where the call came from.
She leaned against the inside of the locked door as there came a knock and a "Rose" as Mickey was trying to get her to open it. Two minutes later she heard a Police siren in the distance, she couldn't believe Alec had actually sent a Police car! She heard footsteps outside, she went to the living room window to see Mickey leap into his car and drive off as the Police car was coming down the street. The Police car stopped just behind Rose's minutes later and she was relieved it was Alec on his own getting out of the driver's door as he locked it with the remote. Alec came up to the front door and let himself in, the light was still flashing on the car. Rose just threw her arms around him as he did the same.
"Rosie, what's happened, sweetheart? Was that Mickey just driving away?"
She nodded a yes to him.
"I'll go after him," but Rose shook her head and just held on to him.
"He's not getting away Rose, I did warn him and now it's become Police business because I had to run downstairs and pull a puzzled uniform out of that squad car to get here so fast and don't think it's funny Miss Tyler, this is serious," as he began to see a smile on her face and then he started as well. He soon lost his grin. "I'm serious, I had to tell the Officer there was an emergency at my home and he'll go in the station and report it."
Just then his works mobile rang. He answered it, turned away from Rose and assured the caller everything was under control, that he'd return the squad car post haste then hung up. He put his arms back around Rose.
"See, I told you," then he smiled. "Geez, Rose, you scared the hell out of me when I got your silent call, I mean we had it in place but I never thought you'd use it, sweetheart. What happened, Rosie, tell me everything."
"Don't you think you'd better turn off that blue flashing light first, Inspector? she asked.
"Oh, forgot about that. You can follow me down to the Station sweetheart and I'll drive us back. Forget dinner, you're in no state to cook, we'll pick up some Chinese on the way back."
It was still only just gone 5pm. Rose hastily put the groceries away that needed to go into the fridge before they got ruined and went out, locking the front door just as Alec drove off. A puzzled Ellie was just pulling into her driveway as she followed the squad car down the street. Rose waved to her and she could image little Freddie in the kiddies car seat imitating a Police siren.
Rose waited outside for Alec to return the car and go finish up in his office having taken the stairs two at a time on the way down and leaving his office in a mess. An Officer standing outside had seen her before with Alec and allowed her to wait. She saw him coming down the steps, got out of the driver's side to let him take over and walked around the car. He put his hand gently on her leg as she got in, reassuringly. Rose told him she'd left a puzzled Ellie in her driveway and she would probably be waiting for them when they got back. She must have seen it as Alec was driving the Police car. They called at the Chinese on the way back, taking a slight detour and sure enough, Ellie saw them as they got out of the car, curiosity having got the better of her.
Ellie was just about to speak when Alec called "Not now Miller, give us an hour and we'll come and tell you all about it," as pleasantly as he could. Now Ellie knew it was trouble when he was back to calling her Miller outside of work.
They went inside, Rose put the rest of the groceries away while Alec dished out the food, having already retrieved half a bottle of wine from the fridge. They waited until they'd finished eating then Rose told him what had happened and about the pathetic statements Mickey was coming out with, saying that her seven year old brother could have beaten him. He'd been childish and immature and Alec said he was more determined than ever that this time was going to be the last. They went to wash the dishes and Alec asked Rose is she had believed any of it. She just burst out laughing.
"Are you serious, Inspector? Well maybe only the bits about you having girlfriends and kids all over the place and wanting me to have loads of kids with you!"
Alec held up his hands in mock submission.
"OK, Miss Tyler, you got me on that one, I just wanted to add you to my collection, I've not got any girlfriends or kids this far south so how about we get started on the kids bit?"
Rose pretended to swoon and fall into his arms and said "Oh, Inspector, I thought you'd never ask," and blew him a kiss "and before you get ahead of yourself, the only thing your adding to your collection are my lacy knickers later, because we have to go see Ellie before she knocks the door down demanding to be told what's going on."