"Beats me. She could have given us some warning. It's up to him, I told him what I could," Jake replied.
Rose really didn't know how to begin.
"Why don't you start from when you first met him?" Alec suggested, seeing she looked nervous. "Rose, I want to understand and if you want, take things further between us?"
"You won't say that when I'm done," Rose replied.
"What makes you think that? So your friend was a time-travelling alien, why am I not surprised eh? Come on Rose, Jake trusted me to tell me some of it. What are you afraid of?"
"That you'll leave me? Did Jake tell ya we went back there and when I came back here, three years had passed? It was easy for my mum and Mickey to adjust here but not me. I gained three years Alec, I'm not as old as it says officially."
"Should that make a difference? Are you telling me to back off?" he wondered.
"Alec, you know what you're up against, if I stay with you."
"You don't get it Rose, do you not understand I care about you? If it's too much then you should go back to London with your friends. If not then stay here with me and decide, no pressure. Have your own room in the caravan, see how things go eh? I invited you to stay after all. You'll be safe from the press, I can keep them away from you."
"You know them?" Rose smiled.
"Yes, the local paper has down-sized, I expect the only reporter left won't be here much longer. What do you say? Tell me bit by bit if you want?"
"That might take more than a week," Rose teased him.
"Then tell me the short version?"
"Can we go get something to eat?" she asked, now feeling hungry.
"You didn't eat earlier?"
"Nah, I was too nervous wondering what Jake was telling ya and what you thought about it."
"That's understandable. So, are you staying?" he asked, thinking she may have to use his room if he didn't hear anything soon.
"Yeah, I told ya my mum will fuss too much if I go home. You'd be rescuing me again."
"Then I will be only too happy to do so. Shall we go find your friends?"
"Mickey's probably on his second breakfast by now," Rose grinned.
"Did they not eat on the way down?"
"He said it was too expensive, old habits die hard," Rose replied.
Alec thought Rose had been the only one but apparently not. They went to join Mickey and Jake, Jake nudging his friend as Rose and Alec walked across the footbridge.
"Seems like she's staying?" Jake grinned.
"He may only be making sure she leaves with us," Mickey disagreed.
"Face it mate, she finally found someone she can trust," Jake told him. "She's been hiding who she is all this time, she can be herself with him."
Alec went to order some food and Rose sat down at the table.
"How did it go then?" Mickey asked her.
"I'm staying, that's all for now. You know what my mum will be like if I go home."
"Is that the only reason?" Jake asked her.
"It's not fair he doesn't know Jake, he's trying to help me. Did my dad tell ya what happened in the hospital?"
Jake nodded.
"He never told me," Mickey huffed, folding his arms as usual.
"Probably 'cos Pete didn't think you needed to know," Jake told him. "Rose will tell ya if she wants."
"It was nothing Mickey, it was just me coming round and not knowing where I was, since I collapsed in the hotel dining room," Rose told him.
"If you say so. What's happening then?"
"Can you drive my car around Mickey? Alec has to leave his hire car here later."
"Did he bring the paperwork?" Jake asked her.
"Ask him when he comes back. I hope he gets that caravan today, I thought he would have heard by now."
"Is there room in that chalet for two of you?" Mickey teased her.
"Rose thinks it's bigger on the inside," Alec replied for her as he joined them. "I tried to tell her otherwise. I just got a call to collect the caravan keys, you will be glad to know, Rose."
"Great. Why don't you show Mickey how to get to the back of the chalet after we've eaten? Then you can go shopping then leave your car around the front?"
"Seems you have it all planned then?" Alec managed to smile, going to see if their orders were ready.
"Trust me, she's always like that," Mickey replied.
"Gee thanks Mickey. Why don't ya tell him more?"
"That's up to you. Is there anything to do around here?"
"Sunbathing?" Rose offered as Alec came back.
"Where are all the shops?"
"Up in the town I guess, it's not Blackpool Mickey," Rose teased him. "I just want some peace and quiet, I can get it here."
"To tell him all your secrets?" Jake grinned as Alec sat next to her.
"If Rose wants to tell me? She knows I will listen."
"Thanks Alec. Are ya gonna get the caravan keys then go round with Mickey?"
Alec wondered if she was going to organise things all week then? Was he going to object though? After they had eaten, Jake and Mickey having got yet another drink, Alec handed Jake the paperwork for his rental car then walked across the road bridge to the caravan park, having given Rose the chalet key and told Mickey how to get round the back to save time. Rose led the way to the front of the chalet, Mickey looking around.
"Bit close to the river," he noted, Jake shaking his head.
"I think Alec was right when he said you thought it was bigger on the inside Rose," Jake laughed as she let them in.
He looked to the right as they entered, seeing the bedroom door open.
"Good thing you're not staying here then? Me and Mickey can stay until Alec's got the groceries if ya want?"
"Yeah, thanks Jake. He shouldn't be doing it really, he had surgery the same day as I did."
"So what's the big secret Pete won't tell me?" Mickey wanted to know.
"When I woke up, I thought I was in some sort of waiting room and someone would be calling my name."
"Well didn't they know you were there?" Mickey asked innocently, Jake rolling his eyes.
"She thought she was passing over to the other side Mickey," Jake enlightened him.
"Oh. I thought ya said Alec was there?"
"He was, we were both out of it and the room was cold, no-one was there, what were we expected to think?" Rose asked him. "Alec worked it out. Someone was supposed to be there but she got held up. It scared the life out of me Mickey."
"Geez Rose, why would it?" Mickey wanted to know, looking out at the river and all the ducks.
"You forgot something Mickey, Rose doesn't belong here," Jake reminded him.
"Oh. Well neither does me or your mum," Mickey replied.
"Yeah but you two took someone else's names, like there could be millions of John Smith's but there's only one Rose Tyler and I won't be listed, will I?"
Jake and Mickey looked at each other.
"She has a point Mickey," Jake told him.
Rose sat on the sofa with her arms folded.
"So, what's gonna happen to me?"
"I think you're making something out of nothing," Mickey told her. "You're here now."
"That's what Alec tried to tell me," Rose replied. "It's not that simple Mickey."
After Alec finally got back, having been for the groceries, they got everything packed, Alec leaving the hire car in the car park as arranged and Rose was choosing which room to take in the caravan.
"This one has a small bathroom," Alec told her as he opened another door. "You should take this one maybe?"
"Yeah, then you won't be waiting for me," Rose smiled as he brought her things in again.
"Want to go out later?" he suggested when Rose finally got unpacked.
"Let's leave it tonight? I don't want to get recognised."
"No-one will notice you, really. We'll just maybe watch some TV then and you can tell me a few more things?"
Rose thought she'd rather go out then.
"I told Mickey about what I thought when I came round the other day," Rose admitted.
"What does he think, since he's the same as you?"
"He doesn't think anything's wrong. It doesn't change anything for me though," she sighed.
Alec got up and crossed over to her.
"Rose, you are probably not alone on this, just talk to the vicar tomorrow, I'll call him."
He reached out and took her hand after he sat beside her.
"Well I'll try but it might not do any good. I can only tell him so much."
"I know. I'll make something to eat or do you want to go eat in the bar?"
They decided to have a walk down to the bar just at the entrance, the place being fairly quiet so they got served quickly. Alec thought Rose looked tired.
"We should get back, before I have to carry you," he joked.
"Yeah, it's been a long day. You re not fit to carry me back anyway," Rose smiled.
"Ah, maybe not then? You can lean on me though."
Since she really was tired, she took his arm when they got outside and luckily, they didn't have far to walk.
"I wish I'd had chance to look around today," she told him as they walked.
"There's really not a lot to see," Alec replied.
"Yeah Mickey was a bit disappointed there wasn't a load of amusement arcades," Rose laughed.
"Why am I not surprised? So was he really not bothered what you told him?"
"He didn't seem to be, maybe he'll think about it?"
"Well he is not my concern Rose, you are. Just have a few days rest eh?"
"Yeah, I think I can manage that," Rose smiled as he opened the caravan door.
"Tomorrow, I will phone the vicar then make sure nothing was left in the chalet and we can drop the keys on the way to see him. Maybe after, if you're not tired we can take that walk?"
"Sounds good to me. I think I'll just go to bed. Can we go to the shop tomorrow, I need a few things."
"Sure, you should have said when I was out earlier."
"I just want some hot chocolate amongst other things."
"I can make you some tea?" he offered, going for the kettle. "Why don't you go get ready for bed and I'll bring you some?"
"I can come back out for it," Rose smiled.
"I would not like you to think I wasn't looking after you," Alec smiled back.
"Well, you're doing a good job so far," Rose replied, going into the bathroom, forgetting she had her own, which made Alec smile.
He delayed making her a drink until she actually went into her bedroom, then he knocked on the door.
"May I come in?" he asked.
"Yeah, it's okay, come in. I had enough being on my own in the hospital, I wish they'd just put me on the ward, that's my mum for ya."
"If you had been on the ward, I would not have been able to stay," Alec pointed out, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Good point. Can I ask ya something?" Alec nodded. "Will you stay for a while?"
"Sure, if you want? No talking about the afterlife though," he joked.
"I think I've had enough of that for one day. Can we just talk about normal things? How are you feeling anyway?"
"I am a lot better than you are right now. When you say stay for a while? I thought you were tired?"
"Would you object if I fell asleep on ya?" Rose smiled, drinking her tea.
"Not at all. Before my surgery, I used to wake a lot, I wish someone had been there with me."
"Aw, then I wish I'd known you then. I can't imagine what that was like for ya. I used to have nightmares about the Cybermen, amongst other things."
"Let me get ready for bed and you can tell me? Don't fall asleep until I get back eh?"
"Gotcha, no falling asleep without ya then?"
He went to get changed, thankful he'd bought some pyjama bottoms and some new t-shirts and thought he'd best use the other bathroom. He thought he would do the right thing when Rose fell asleep and go back to his own room, well if somehow she didn't prevent him from leaving by sprawling over him, though he should be so lucky. Maybe his luck was changing though?
He'd got through surgery when he hadn't expected to and Rose was there when he'd woken up, maybe it had already changed? Rose though was feeling a little guilty she'd asked him to stay but she thought he'd been willing enough to agree. He was soon back and got into the double bed.
"We could not have done this at my old place," he reminded her as he lay back. "The main bedroom only had a small bed. So, what do you want to talk about? Tell me why you had nightmares about the Cybermen. You said something about they were not on their own on your world."
"This race called the Daleks had got through before them, that was how they got there so easily although Pete didn't know that at the time. It turned into a battle, Pete brought me and my mum here but I went back, I didn't want to leave him on his own. Then Pete gave in to my mum to try and bring me back. I sometimes dream he didn't and I was screaming for the Doctor to stop me going into the void."
Jake had told him who the man was Rose wanted to stay with. Now he knew why she was so scared.
"That's it Rose, that's why you are afraid of crossing over. Can't you see?"
Rose shook her head, wishing the pain in her side would let her turn towards him. She wished Alec had got in the other side instead.
"Want to change places?" he offered, wondering why she wasn't facing him.
When they had, carefully, Rose managed to turn to him.
"So, why am I afraid of crossing over? I'm only afraid I won't be called, remember?"
"I think it's more," Alec replied, turning to face her. "Rose, you were heading for oblivion, you said there was nothing in this void. That would scare anyone, to be heading for it and your friend had to watch you. You have to try and put it out of your mind, Pete got to you in time and I bet your friend was relieved. When you were recovering that must have been on your mind?"
"Maybe? He told me there was nothing in there, what would it have been like? Alec, maybe you're right? That if I'm never called, I'd be floating around, like in the void? Where would I be floating though, in the void itself?"
Alec knew he could never answer that question and neither would the vicar, this was way beyond any of them as to where it would leave Rose. The only one who may know was in another universe, if this Doctor really did know.
"Rose, have you thought this void expands to other universes, well I mean all universes?" he asked her, pushing a strand of her hair back.
"Yeah, I think it does, it's between the worlds, all worlds, it has to be, like falling through a gap into nothing, a never ending nothing. Geez, that makes me feel even worse. Is that what would happen if my name's not called?"
Alec was wondering what he'd started. What was Paul Coates going to make of this? Would the vicar thank him for taking Rose to see him? He didn't think so. This was getting even more complicated.
"Yes but if that is the case, then maybe the same can be said of a better place? Think about it Rose, why would there be only one for each universe eh? So, if that's true, then you will be called."
"How can there only be one for all the worlds Alec? How many would there be with the same name and how would they know the difference?"
This was getting too much for him.
"Then talk to Paul Coates tomorrow, I'm not an expert. I'm just trying to help you Rose. Why don't you get comfortable and I'll stay until you go to sleep?"
He kissed her forehead and Rose settled down, half on him and drifted off to sleep, leaving Alec no choice but to stay, not that he really minded. He was watching her when she woke up.
"Hi. Did you stay all night then?" she asked, being careful how she moved.
"You could say that. Good morning Rose. Maybe I deserve a small reward for you sleeping on me all night?"
Rose decided to tease him.
"By making you a cup of tea?" she smiled into his arm.
"I think you can maybe do better than that? Am I asking too much?"
He gently tried to move her onto her back and leaned over.
"Need some more painkillers?" he asked as she pulled a face as she moved.
"Yeah, soon. So, this reward?" she smiled, reaching her arms up.
"You are teasing me Rose. If I'm asking too much, just say."
"No, it's not asking too much, I just wasn't sure, ya know, where this was going."
"Well you asked me to stay, I did not know what that may involve. So, while you are here, maybe we can see what happens?"
"Then maybe we should make a start?" Rose smiled as she pulled him towards her, Alec putting his hand beside her to keep his balance.
A while later, Alec was getting Rose some water as she complained her side hurt even more.
"Well you pulled me down," he teased her as she tried to sit up, Alec handing the glass and two painkillers. "I will leave you to get dressed and make a start on breakfast shall I?"
"Thanks. So, that was nice," she smiled, handing the empty glass back.
"Indeed. So, do you want to share on a more permanent basis while you are here? If so, we could have stayed where I already was."
"You said the place was too small and so was the bed," Rose reminded him.
"Ah, yes but it could have made things more interesting."
"Maybe it could? Want to swap back?"
"The personnel officer may not appreciate it. No, it's best we stay here, this is more practical, should I be able to entice my daughter to pay a visit. After my visit, she may be a little keener."
"Alec, I hope she doesn't want to visit because of me?"
"I'm not going to lie Rose, the novelty may wear off but you will win her round, I'm sure you will. I will make that call to the vicar, shall I?"
"Yeah, I should get it over with? What do ya think he'll make of it?"
Alec personally thought the man would be out of his depth, even more than he himself was.
"You have to talk to someone Rose, I can't give you the answers you want."
After breakfast, Alec found he still had the number for Paul Coates, though he had no idea why. The vicar was just as surprised Alec still had it, they'd not exactly got on.
"DI Hardy, what can I do for you?" Paul greeted him as he sat in the churchyard.
"I need a favour, not for myself but for a very good friend who needs your help."
"Not the woman I saw recently who had a fight with her husband?" Paul wondered.
"What? Who was that?" Alec asked him.
"Never mind, I thought she had gone to make a complaint but you're not back at work yet are you?" Paul replied, wishing he'd not said anything now.
Claire had looked a bit battered when he'd last seen her, maybe she and Ashworth had a fight about the pendant, Alec wondered.
"Well this has got nothing to do with whoever you saw. I recently had an operation and someone was in the recovery room with me and was afraid the worst had happened, that she was waiting to be called to the other side and she somehow thought she would never be called," Alec told him, not wanting to go into any details.
"Oh. Well in that case, I would be only too pleased to help. I'm free this afternoon, just come to my office, you know where it is," Paul told him.
Alec remembered all too well, having collected Tom Miller's battered laptop from him.
"Right, that's arranged," Alec told Rose, who was listening. "Will you be okay while I go see the chief to ask about getting my job back?"
"I'll be fine Alec, you go. I could get my stepfather on to it," she teased him.
"I do not think I will need any help," Alec replied, then thought he was being ungrateful. "If she flatly refuses though, I may take you up on the offer," he smiled.
"Aw, I'm sure she'll be impressed at you locking those three from Sandbrook up," Rose assured him.
"For doing it while I was on sick leave?" Alec wondered, thinking maybe that hadn't been such a good idea. "Then Tess took over the custody suite and then both Miller and I took it from there, while Miller was attached to another station. Yes, I can see it will go down well love," he joked, going for his tie.
"Alec, you survived that operation for a reason, to get justice for those two girls," Rose reminded him, getting up to take over doing his tie.
Alec wondered if that was what she used to do to her mysterious friend? She didn't seem to want to fasten it all the way and never bothered about the button he'd left undone. Just how much did he remind her of him? If it was only little things like a tie, then he could live with that but what if it was more?
Then he realised. "Rose," he started, removing her hands from his jacket lapels. "How much do I remind you of the friend you lost?"
"What? Where did that come from?" Rose asked him.
"Please, just answer the question Rose. I have to remind you, otherwise why are you here?"
Rose thought she should either slap him or walk out but Jake and Mickey had left and she'd been warned not to drive just yet.
"You remind me of him in lots of ways Alec," she had to admit.
"Well the last time I checked, I had not travelled in time," he smiled, wondering what she was getting at. "You may as well tell me anything else about him. Do I look a bit like him?"
Rose could answer that in a few ways and being honest with him could lead to him telling her to leave.
"When I met him, he looked different. He had the ability to change if something happened to him."
"That is not an answer Rose," he replied. "I know you have enough at present Rose but best get his over with eh?"
"Well, he wasn't Scottish and he didn't have a beard so he didn't look exactly look like you. His hair used to be all over the place like it had a mind of its own and he used to babble on at fifty miles an hour. So if that makes you look like him then no, not a great deal but you are both similar."
Alec wondered what sort of answer that was? Was that all he was going to get out of her? If so, then maybe he could live with it?
"If that's all then?" he smiled. "Just tell me that's not why you are here."
"Alec, it's not why I'm here or why what happened this morning. Ever since I've been here, I've just been the Vitex heiress, no-one was interested in me except for that fact. You don't care who I am."
He thought maybe she was right? She had been vulnerable when she'd woken up after her surgery and she had trusted him.
"Well, you don't care I was labelled the worst cop in Britain," he smiled, going to put his arms around her neck.
"Who called ya that?" Rose smiled.
"Just one reporter and it was brought up at the trial. See, we both have titles," he smiled back. "When I get back from seeing the chief we will talk some more. I want you to tell me more about him."
"To see if there are any more similarities?" Rose asked innocently.
"No, there are bound to be more but if you say they make no difference, then they don't to me either. We both have fresh starts Rose, let's concentrate on that eh?"
He leaned down to kiss her lightly on the lips, Rose thinking how sweet it was.
"Good luck getting your job back," she told him as she recovered.
"Promise me you will not call your stepfather and get him to tell my chief to take me back."
Rose held her hands up in defence.
"I promise, you can get it back on your own, you proved you still have it."
Alec just hoped she was right as he left and walked the short distance to the police station, Bob surprised to see him since the last time, he made the DI go apologise to who was now under arrest for killing a twelve year old girl. He hoped the officer wouldn't make him do the apologies this time.
Alec eyed him warily as he approached the desk.
"Let the chief know I'm here," Alec told him.
"Yes Sir. We all heard you got those responsible for those two girls in Sandbrook," Bob told him, Alec wondering if the man was just grovelling after dragging him to apologise to Lee Ashworth.
After Bob told him the chief would see him, Alec knocked on her door, surprised she was still there.
"Well, I wasn't expecting to see you quite so soon Alec," the chief greeted him.
"I'm well enough to go back to work, if the job is still open? I have something to do next week though, do I have to see the CMO before I can apply?"
"Yes, the DI who replaced you is more keen to get out than you were when you first arrived Alec. I should be mad at you for first not declaring you were ill then walking away while I was talking to you but well done in finally getting those responsible in your old case. Will you have to attend the trial?" she asked.
Alec thought not if he could help it, he'd had enough recently but at least next time, he wouldn't get accused of having an non-existent affair with Miller. He hoped Tess would keep him out of it.
"I hope not but who knows? I take it you know what happened at the other one?"
"Yes, I heard and really Alec, you should have been more careful letting your DS into your hotel room at that time of night. Did you not realise how it looked?" the chief smiled.
Alec thought she was rather enjoying it.
"She probably never noticed the cameras and why was Becca Fisher helping the defence by handing over the tapes?" Alec wanted to know, thinking he should go thank her for that although she was probably under threat at the time, the defence barrister was a nasty piece of work to say the least.
The chief tried to change the subject.
"Come and see the medical officer a week on Monday but light duties only for now, see how it goes. I was informed you had moved. Any reason?" she asked him.
"I have someone staying with me at present and my daughter may come for a visit," Alec replied, not willing to say who it was. "Did DS Miller apply for her job back?"
"Yes, I'm thinking about it but she has to ask to be released from Exeter traffic division, she asked to go there but I think she'll get out of that, since she's owed some personal time to get her family back together. Will she want to come back though if you do?" the chief questioned him.
Alec wondered if that was either a trick question or she was being serious? In light of recent events, would Miller want to come back if she was told he was? When the terms of his re-instatement were agreed, he called Rose to see if she wanted anything from the store, being given a list and regretting calling her.
After a light lunch, Alec thought he may give Rose's car a try, getting a frown from her when he moved the seat.
"I will change it back when you want to drive," he offered on the way to the church.
"Well, Jake never does, that's why I don't let him drive it. I'm not sure going up there's a good idea Alec."
"Rose, you have to get this off your mind. It's doing you no good," he reminded her.
She knew he was right but would she ever get it off her mind? Alec parked up and helped Rose up the few steps into the churchyard. Then he led her to Paul's office beside the church and knocked. When Paul answered he was a bit surprised to see Rose Tyler standing there with her arm in Alec's.
"Miss Tyler," Paul greeted her, holding out his hand. "DI Hardy did not say he was bringing you to see me. Welcome to St Bede's."