After a very brief round of kissing, they went round to see Ellie and Rose told her what had happened just now and about the weekend. Ellie said she was so sorry she hadn't been there to help Rose but was assured that her boys came first, no matter what.
"He's just acting like a child, Ellie. I went away without really saying goodbye and he just lost it, that's all. We'd been good friends up until I left, we used to go out when we were younger but we drifted apart for a while and I went away. When I came back we were friends again but I think deep down inside, he never quite got the fact that's all we were. I think he missed me, thought I was all on my own and when he saw me with Alec, he just blew up. He got over jealous and because of that, he made up some nasty stuff about Alec thinking I'd turn against him and go back. He had no idea what he was up against and how much Alec and I love each other."
Ellie was sat next to Rose on the sofa and put her arm around her, then looked at Alec.
"Well I'd say he was pretty clueless about you two, he's not seen you around here on Sunday lunchtimes."
Alec got up from the chair and came over to sit at the other side of Rose, making her move over and only just squeezing in and he put his arm around her too.
"Rose," he said, "you have the best Detective team in the whole of Dorset looking out for you. What more could you ask for eh?"
Rose let Ellie's arm slip down as she moved even closer to Alec who had moved forward and now had both arms around her.
"You're safe Rose and I give my word as an Officer of the law, he'll never bother you again."
"And mine," added Ellie as she rubbed Rose's arm in support for her. "He's a prat, Rose and he's not worth it," she added. "And if you two don't have anything else to tell me then Alec, take her home and look after her. Oh, and when are you two going to get your acts together and move in together? You're wasting money renting two houses and move into Rose's so I don't have to break in a new neighbour will you?"
They all laughed. "Watch it, Miller," joked Alec.
They all got up and Rose gave Ellie a hug and whispered "Thank You" to her.
If it hadn't been for Ellie playing Cupid, they might never have got back together again.
They left Ellie in peace and went back to Rose's house.
"Rose, you should ring your step-dad about this you know, you're his responsibility and so is Mickey's childish behaviour, he does work for him. If you don't do something it will get out of control and then I will really have to get involved professionally."
"I've already spoken to Jake and asked him to alert me if Mickey tries to really access your files anywhere and he somehow manages, his access will be withdrawn. I knew he was telling a pack of lies Alec because I know he'd not been able to find anything, the search was blocked because I'd asked dad to put an alert out for your name when I asked him about letting you have access."
"Clever girl, Rosie, as well as being beautiful of course but this needs to be stopped."
"I know, I'll get something done about it, Jake will probably come down now if he's not already on his way, that is."
"Well I think it will be better if we stay at my house now until it's all over and when you get home from work, go round to Ellie's until I get home."
"Yes Sir," she replied in a mock salute.
Plans were made for Rose to go out of the back door of the shop if Mickey appeared at the shop, given she'd have chance to lock the door and get straight in her car and drive to the Station. She had to go to Alec's when she got back and she was to ring and lock the doors or go straight to Ellie's providing she was in if she saw Mickey's car otherwise they agreed it would be reasonably safe. Before they settled for the night, Rose packed what she needed and they took it round to his house.
"Well I least I don't have to pack many pairs of knickers, Inspector, they're already in your bedroom," she laughed.
"Our bedroom," he corrected her. "Tomorrow, we'll talk about that, we can start looking for places if you like, choose a house together."
"I like both our houses, Alec it's going to be difficult leaving either but you're right, we should choose something together. We can just rent if you want, we don't have to buy one."
"Oh, I don't know, Miss Tyler, buying a house with you, although I'd have to get a mortgage."
Rose stopped dead and looked at him. Yet another reminder of the many discussion she'd had with the Doctor, that of discussing where to live after they were stranded on Sanctuary Base One.
"What's wrong, Rosie? You look like you've seen a ghost," asked Alec as Rose realised she'd been staring at him and realising she was talking about buying a house with Alec the same was she'd been talking all those years ago.
The coincidences were happening all too frequently for her liking. Some little thing he'd do or say, quite innocently, would jerk her back to those times and she didn't think they'd ever go away. There would always be something.
"It's nothing Alec, really, it's just it's such a big step, from having two houses and then living together permanently and I know now, that's what I need, something permanent, with you." She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Come on, Inspector, let's get my things to your house and get some sleep, I've had quite enough of this day." She heard something from him that resembled a "who said anything about sleep?"
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Mickey had heard the siren in the distance and turned away from Rose's door. Surely Hardy wouldn't have sent a squad car, would he? Had she rung Hardy's mobile without him noticing? More than likely as she'd slapped his face which still hurt. He had tried knocking on her door after she struck him but he knew she wouldn't come out now. He had to try another way to get to talk to her and to make her see reason. The siren got nearer so he leapt back into his car, did a u-turn and drove off just as a squad car came around the corner. As he sped off he was sure Hardy was at the wheel. Since when had he become a wanted person? Only since Rose became involved with a Doctor look-alike, that's when.
Now he was more determined than ever. He drove around for hours before he went back to his hotel to formulate another plan. He would have to somehow get in the Torchwood database whether he compromised it or not. He would have to be careful. If it meant buying a cheap laptop or something smaller how could he be such an idiot? He had internet access on his phone but knew that wasn't as secure but it would have to do and he could delete the history afterwards. He went up to his room, he was feeling hungry but it would have to wait. He went to the Torchwood website and logged in.
He typed in 'Detective Inspector Alec Hardy' into the search box. He was immediately logged out. He tried to log back in and got 'user name and password not recognised' and knew that Rose had got Jake to block anyone who tried to search for Hardy. This was going to be tough one to crack. "Right, let's try this one," he said out loud. On the log in screen he put in Rose's user name as all Torchwood members had to use their names as part of the user name and he just happened to have seen her use it once but never thought he'd need it. He typed in her password and was redirected to another log on screen which he half expected knowing Rose would have suspected he'd try it. It was asking for a password. He tried 'thedoctor2005' which was when she first met him and got an incorrect password. There were two more attempts. He tried 'galifrey' where the Doctor came from but it was still incorrect. He had one more attempt. "Ha!" as he typed 'mickeytheidiot' and waited.
His phone went into meltdown as the screen went red with a sign in the middle saying "You failed to enter the correct password. Your Torchwood access as been withdrawn. Please refer to the Director" He'd blown it. Now everyone at Torchwood would be alerted as would Rose, Pete and Jake and a team would have probably been dispatched to Broadchurch to find him. He had to leave town first thing in the morning. He'd go back to that town, what's it name, Dorchester? It wasn't far and he could base himself there and plan something else because he was determined not to give up, not now. Rose had to see this Hardy was dangerously possessive, willing to get in a squad car just because she rang when he'd tried to talk some sense into her.
He had to convince her that he was only trying to help her by getting her away from someone who reminded her of her past, that she was still seeing the Doctor and Hardy was taking advantage of her, playing on her emotions and pretending to go along. Hardy was only after one thing and he'd made that quite plain right in front of his nose. What else would Hardy be doing with a girl ten or fifteen years his junior? Rose had been led astray, swept away with the fact he looked like the Doctor and she just didn't see it. It was his, Mickey Smith's job to make her. He stayed the night then checked out and got in his car to go to Dorchester, ignoring his phone when he saw it was Jake.
As soon as Mickey had typed in Alec's name, an alert went out to Jake and Rose was alerted by a text message while she was packing to go stay at Alec's when he tried to use her access which amused her rather than upset her, she knew Jake would handle it and never mentioned it to Alec who would have probably sent a SWAT team to the hotel Mickey was staying in if he'd known.
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Rose got a phone call from Jake the next morning after Alec left her in bed. When she'd got up, she realised that this was no good, she should start getting up at the same time, having a shower with him every morning now she'd discovered just how enjoyable it was, making him breakfast and kissing him goodbye on the doorstep and she decided that from tomorrow, that was exactly what she was going to do. They were going to live together and that's what couples did, have breakfast together. She'd never had anyone to do that with before and she was liking the idea of it now they were making plans together.
Jake had news for her. "Mickey has gone off the grid, Rose, he's not answering his phone to me and he's not rung the office since his attempt last night to get into your account after he was locked out of his. You must have really come up with a good password but I'm going to come down there as a precaution and I've had to tell your step-dad what's going on, I'm sorry. He wanted to send a whole team down but I've persuaded him that between me and Alec we can look after you. I'm coming down tomorrow, I'll be down some time in the afternoon, I'll meet you at the shop so wait for me."
Rose breathed a sign of relief she was getting re-enforcements, not that she thought Alec wasn't more than capable but he had his work to do and as much as he wanted he couldn't be with her for 24 hrs day.
Alec got a message from Rose to saying Jake was coming down tomorrow to which he replied great but he's not staying with us, he can stay at yours and that was a load of Alec's mind because as much as he loved her dearly he couldn't be there 24hrs for her unless he took some leave and he wanted to save that to go looking at houses with her and perhaps persuade her to go away for a week. His birthday was coming up and although he'd never celebrated it over the last few years, he was looking forward to this one with Rose. "Might even get a shave for the occasion," he mused. "Yeah and that will confuse her even more nice one Hardy."
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Mickey was about to leave but as he drove down the main street he just happened to pass the side street where Rose's shop was. It was still quite early and she wouldn't be there yet. He did a turn at the mini roundabout and pulled into a car park just opposite. He had half an hour to wait but thought he might see her drive into the street or the car park. He saw her car pull into the street and assumed she had a parking spot here. He gave her ten minutes then got out of his car and crossed over.
He never saw Alec who was standing outside the Police Station talking to Ellie who was just unlocking her car as they were about to follow some new enquiries on a case that had gone cold. Alec just happened to look across and spotted Mickey and couldn't believe his eyes and caught Ellie's attention and nodded in Mickey's direction. She caught on and got out and locked her car.
"Is that him?" she asked. Alec nodded. "Right, I could do with some excitement," she laughed.
"This is serious, Miller, let me handle this. I know she's your friend too but this is my responsibility."
They set off to walk the short distance to Rose's shop.
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Rose got out of her car and let herself into the shop. She half wished Jake was coming down today but he had other things to do. She had locked the door behind her but a few minutes later there was a knock on the door. The mail had already arrived and she thought it might be a parcel or hopefully Alec paying her a visit but as she opened the blind to see who it was her faced dropped. It was Mickey and she couldn't believe he had the nerve to stand there. He was saying "Let me in Rose, I need to talk to you," through the glass. She pulled the blind back down, she did not want to open the door and hoped he'd get tired and go away as he'd cause a scene and that's just what she needed.
The knocking continued and she fished into her pocket to get her mobile out to call Alec. Is this what it had come to, not even been able to open her shop without help from Alec? She didn't need to phone because she heard Alec's voice outside saying Mickey's name as he'd been so intent on getting her to open the door he'd not noticed the two Detectives creep up on him. Rose opened the blind to see the three of them standing there and Alec just about to knock on the door. She let them in and locked it again, Alec half pushing a surprised Mickey into the shop.
"Want to you want me do with him Rose?" Alec asked her. "I could take him to the Station for questioning for disturbing the peace."
Ellie just stood there with a grin on her face, she so wanted to ask him a few questions of her own but left it to her superior.
"Just let him go Alec, he's not worth wasting Police time," she said as she disappeared into the back, she so needed coffee right now.
Ellie followed her and left the two men alone. Ellie explained Alec has seen Mickey cross the road and so they had followed him. Alec had his own agenda, he wanted Mickey gone and fast, like yesterday.
"This is your final warning and if you don't heed it, I'll have you escorted to the boundary, is that clear, Mr Smith? If you leave town now, I'll let you off with a personal warning, I won't get involved as a Police Officer yet but I will if I have to. Rose has made it more than clear she doesn't want to see you. What's your problem? Why are you even doing this? Rose and I are very happy as a couple and I know ex-boyfriends tend to get a bit jealous but this is going on borderline obsession."
Just then, Ellie and Rose came out of the back, Rose putting two drinks down on the counter, Ellie holding hers.
Then she took everyone aback with her next statement.
"Mickey, you know I can have you thrown out of the organization and I will and worse than that, I'll have you ret-conned. You have two choices, leave now and never contact me again or I ring my dad now," as she picked up her phone and dialled Pete's number.