Rose was soon out, interrupting Alec's thoughts, which was just as well since he was dwelling too much on something going wrong with his surgery, that or it being cancelled or he left Daisy and Rose behind and maybe the child Rose could be carrying.

"Hey, Alec, I hope that nurse got back with my results, then I can get discharged. I really don't want to go with you dressed like this."

"You look fine Rose, don't fuss about your appearance."

"I wouldn't want to meet your ex in a hospital gown though," she mused, taking his hand.

"I'll be the one wearing a hospital gown if anything. Where's the porter to take you back?"

A man in blue approached them after he parked another wheelchair outside the x-ray department.

"Right, where are you going then?" he asked as he took Rose's chart.

Rose thought that was a standard greeting. Alec asked for the man to slow down as he took off towards the exit and Rose smiled. She knew he hated being like that, not been able to do any physical exertion and they'd had to tone down their love life, well apart from that first night and she wondered how he'd managed to survive.

Once back at the ward, Nurse Jenny was waiting for Rose so settling her in the armchair, Alec pulling the other one around, the news was broken to her.

"I had to get my friend to rush it through and it might not be that accurate but yes, you are around two weeks or so, it's a bit early for an ultrasound, I'll ask the sister if you can be given a follow-up appointment in around another six weeks or so."

"Thanks Jenny. Will you come and tell me when my other results come back?"

Jenny nodded and left them, pulling the curtain back after her but the nosy women opposite were otherwise occupied with a new arrival in the bed next to Rose's.

Alec pulled his chair forward, taking her hands.

"Well, so now we know but when you meet Tess, don't tell her unless I don't survive. I will have to try and tell her Claire may have the missing evidence, if I can use my phone."

"I'll tell her, it will give us something to talk about while you're in surgery. She can tell me what happened."

"Don't believe everything she says, it was her who had her car broken into, she was meeting someone. She wasn't there when I pulled Pippa out of the river either, then I found out where she had been."

"I'm sorry Alec, that you had to find the girl like that, I can't imagine what it must have been like for you. So you never found her cousin?"

"No but I won't give up and now Claire has made a big mistake. She was supposed to be lying low but she's now back in the spotlight. If Tess thinks she has the missing evidence, South Mercia police will get involved and she will re-open the case. Rose, I'm sorry love, for getting you into this mess."

"Rubbish, I'm always getting into trouble, James used to say I was jeopardy friendly."

Alec smiled and leaned forward. "I just bet you were. Are you getting back into bed eh?"

"Is that an invitation?"

"Now Rose, remember where you are eh?"

By midday, Rose had heard nothing else and the orderly was taking lunch orders.

"I'll go find the café, see if I can get a phone signal and call Miller then Tess," Alec told her as Rose was asked if she wanted fish or an omelette, thinking she would be safer with the fish.

"OK, come right back won't you?"

"Aye, if I don't have anything now, it will be too late before I go for my surgery, I was told nothing an hour before. I hope you will be ready to go when I come back."

"So do I."

On his arrival at the café, Alec was pleased to see there was some signal on his phone as he pressed Ellie's number.

"How's Rose?" Ellie asked as she was about to head out, with another DS.

"Still waiting for the test results but she got the other one, it's confirmed, she's around two weeks."

"Blimey, you've not even known each other for two weeks, you were debating whether to ask her to my place for dinner."

"Don't remind me. She's going to keep it, she is moving in with me you know and I accept full responsibility, we both knew what we were doing. She was alone and Claire had pulled a nasty trick on her, it just happened."

"So she wasn't taking anything then?" Ellie asked, amused the grumpy detective had it in him to get a woman pregnant.

"What do you think? When she left home, she wasn't thinking of getting involved with anyone, it was just one of those things. When I set off to go get her, that was not the foremost on my mind. I'll see you Monday morning, unless Rose calls you for anything. Any news on Claire?"

"Fine but I've got to go explain to Beth why you're not with me. Patrols are on the lookout for Claire, she must be heading back where she came from."

"I'm sure you'll think of something to tell the Latimers Miller."

"When did you want to see Tom?"

"Make it Monday morning, first thing."

That was if there was a Monday morning for him but now he had a baby to think about. He reluctantly called Tess again but only got her voicemail, maybe she was already on her way to the hospital so Rose would have to tell her about Claire, he wanted to spend his last few minutes alone with her, what he had to say was not for Tess to hear.

Rose had just finished her lunch when the ward sister pulled the curtain all the way back.

"Good news Rose, you can go home. You just have some bruising and a pulled muscle but the painkillers will help with that. Did you get your other result?"

"Yeah, the nurse said I'd get a follow-up appointment."

"We need your address first, we don't seem to have it."

"I didn't give it, I'm just about to move."

"Well leave it at the desk, you'll get your discharge papers sent to your doctor's surgery. Is your boyfriend coming back?"

"Yeah, he's just gone to the café. I'll get dressed then and thanks for looking after me."

"Well you take care and we'll get that ultrasound booked for you then you'll be booked in. Is this the nearest hospital?"

"So I was told, I've only been in Broadchurch a few weeks."

"There is a community hospital there but I don't know about a maternity unit, there have been some departments closed. They may have no emergency department either or maybe the ambulance driver thought it best to bring you here under the circumstances."

Rose got dressed and waited for Alec coming back and wondered where he'd got to. He was outside getting some fresh air after being there all morning and there was more to come. Rose was getting worried about him as she waited by the desk after getting everything she needed. She saw Jenny, who was surprised Rose was still there.

"Not gone yet?"

"I'm waiting for my boyfriend, he should have been back by now."

"Maybe he was scared off, with the result of that other test?"

"No, he wouldn't do that. Can you call him for me? Is there a phone signal in the café?"

"Yeah, there is. Give me the number."

Alec felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, seeing an 'Unknown Number' but as he was about to ignore it, he thought it could be the ward Rose was in or about his surgery.

"Hardy," he answered as he found a bench to sit on.

"Oh, I'm calling for Rose, she wondered where you were, it's Jenny."

"Can she get out of there?"

"Yes, can you come and get her?"

"Aye, tell her I'll be right up."

He waited for the lift, he was so close to getting himself fixed now, nothing was going to spoil it. Rose was still talking to the nurse.

"Ready to go love?" Alec asked her as Rose got up carefully.

"Good luck later," the nurse called after them.

"What did she mean? She meant with the baby? Rose, you did not tell her I was here to have my pacemaker fitted, did you?"

"Quit with the questions Alec. I didn't want her saying anything in front of Ellie."

"Why would she say something in front of Miller?" he asked as the lift arrived, him letting two people get out and allowing Rose in first.

"She asked if I had someone to take me home and I said you had to stay."

"What exactly for?" he asked, forgetting she'd told him to stop asking questions.

They arrived on the ground floor and he led her outside. If this was going to be his last few hours with Rose, he sure wasn't going to spend any more of them inside that building than he had to.

"I told her it was something embarrassing and you didn't want to tell anyone."

"Thanks a lot Rose, what is she going to think?"

"Aw come on, I was just playing, in case those nosy women were listening."

"They have to do something to pass the time."

"Yeah, they could read a magazine or do some knitting and stick their earphones in."

"Is your mother like you?" Alec mused, seeing a whole new side to his girlfriend.

Rose dug her elbow into his side. "Well, we've got a couple of hours before you have to go back inside, what do you want to do?"

"Seriously? Well, I've no car so we can't go park somewhere so no-one can see us and you just got attacked anyway. How's the pain now?"

"Manageable as long as I don't move suddenly or bend down. Seriously, we have to talk. I'm not having this baby without you so get any ideas of not surviving out of that scruffy head of yours."

"Excuse me, I am not 'Scruffy' as you so kindly put it. I tidied up before I came out, did you not notice?" he asked, taking her hand and running it on his chin.

"I was being affectionate you know? I can't do this on my own."

"I know love, that's why you have to find your friends, promise me?"

"Ok, I'll try."

"Go to Miller, she will help you and tell her, well tell her I didn't want anyone to know about me."

"I will but you can tell her yourself when we get back. They will let you home tonight?"

"If there are no complications, I expect so. If I have to stay in, let Tess take you back to Broadchurch."

"No way, I'm staying with you, on a chair if I have to.'

"You need to rest and not in a chair."

"For one night Alec, I'm not leaving you."

"Then get a hotel room nearby and come back first thing. Will you at least agree to that?"

"Yeah, ok then. I'd better look some up while I can still get a phone signal."

"You would think they could sort something out, a place like this?" Alec nodded towards the entrance.

"Where I came from, if there was no signal, they used the wi-fi that was free in most places, even on the tube. It was so weird at first, seeing everyone talking on their phones while trains were whizzing past and even once you got on."

"You should suggest it to the phone companies," Alec moaned as he got his out of his pocket to see a missed call from Tess, she must have rung while he'd been collecting Rose, typical.

"I'm not allowed Alec, I can't do anything to interfere with the natural progression now I'm back, it was like where I was, they didn't have certain things and Pete forbade me to even suggest anything. Me and Mickey could have made an absolute fortune of our own."

"That would have been wrong, your stepfather was right, it could have done a lot of harm."

"Not songs or stories though but Torchwood kept us pretty busy."

"That's different I suppose, you would have been helping entertain people but inventions?"

"Let's not get into that shall we? We'll take a walk and find a secluded spot and do some serious snogging?"

"I'm all for that. Why don't we go find you a hotel, well us, then if I get out, we can stay overnight and go back tomorrow?"

They looked quickly on Alec's phone, finding a place not far from the hospital and were there ten minutes later, booking a double room and Rose asking if they served early breakfast for hospital visitors. They still had well over an hour before they had to set off back to give them time to get to the surgical unit.

Alec left his phone on silent as he lay Rose carefully on the bed and tried not to touch the side that hurt as he kissed his way across her tummy, Rose ruffling his hair. As Rose lay on the opposite side to her injury, Alec coaxed her out of her jeans and underwear as they carefully showed their love for each other. With fifteen minutes to spare, Alec helped her up and leaned down to help her with her jeans.

"I wish we had more time Rose, all the things I want you to experience, just in case."

"We'll have plenty of chances Alec. Look, I'm gonna call Ellie and ask her to find Mickey for me and he might know where the Doctor is."

"What can he do Rose, is he a heart surgeon?"

"No but you've no idea what's in the Tardis infirmary, there could be something to help you."

"Now's the time to tell me Rose. I still have to go ahead though, if you don't manage to find him."

"Yeah, I know but Mickey should know I'm here, I've left it long enough."

"Yes and I'm sure he'll be only too happy to see you love. Now, one more kiss and we have to go."

"Did Tess call?"

"I tried earlier and she called me back while I was collecting you."

"You should try again."

"Ah, she'll be already here knowing her, sat drinking coffee no doubt. We'll go by the café on the way in shall we?"

Tess had arrived over half an hour ago, even after she'd got caught in traffic and since Alec hadn't called her back, she decided she'd just wait for him – unless he'd backed out but there was no chance now he'd got a new girlfriend who may be in the family way, trust him. Maybe she would know by now, being in hospital herself, they will have had to eliminate the fact to treat her injuries. She turned around and saw her ex husband standing further away with a young blonde as they were looking in her direction. She half waved and seeing her, Alec took Rose's arm and led her across, leaning over the trellis and the potted plants.

"I thought you would have already been here Alec. Hello, you must be Rose then?"

"Yeah, that's me, hello. I thought your daughter might have been here?"

"No, she goes off to her gran's house before I go to work. With Ashworth still on the loose somewhere, I don't like to leave her in the house all day on her own, goodness knows who she'd invite in."

"We taught her better than that Tess but never mind it's the right thing to do. Right, let's get this over with."

Tess followed them down a corridor where it indicated the surgical unit was, Alec stopping by a doorway.

"Tess, I'll say this now, Rose comes in with me, on her own and to recovery, should I be fortunate enough to be taken there afterwards."

"For goodness sake Alec, I can see you're in love with the girl, I'll not interfere, I didn't want you thinking I didn't care at all that I never took the time. I have to tell Daisy, should you not recover, in case you forgot. Is there anyone else?"

"My solicitor will take care of everything. Rose, you have nothing to do, the police will take care of any funeral arrangements. Tess, promise me if I don't get through this, you'll take Rose back to Broadchurch? Tell Daisy I'm sorry for not being there for her as well."

"Oh rubbish Alec, you'll be going home with Rose tonight, you're too stubborn to give up a new girlfriend. Well Rose, are you pregnant or not then?" Tess asked her as Alec went up to the desk.

"They did a test this morning and yeah, though it's a bit early to really tell, all the signs have been there."

"Trust him, right when he was considering surgery, without even telling anyone."

Tess crossed to a row of seats, Rose following as Alec turned around. He'd been told someone would call him shortly and only one person could go with him. He knew who that was as he sat beside Rose, taking her hand and kissing the back of it.

"She must be doing something right Alec, you look a lot tidier than the last time I saw you."

Alec nudged Rose. "See, even she does not think I'm scruffy."

"I was just joking, I was the one who cut your hair, remember?"

"Yes and you enjoyed showing off to everyone as well."

"So you worked with Claire Ripley then?"

"Yeah, what a mistake that turned out to be, she went all psycho on me when Alec asked me out. She must have got the wrong idea about why he took her to Broadchurch."

"Yes Alec, why did you take Claire to Broadchurch? Did you get her that job?"

"I vouched for her, she let me down – end of story. I don't have time for this now. Tess, has she been sighted in your area?"

"No, not yet, I've got a description out on her for her to be picked up on assault charges."

"Well that may not be all, Rose has some information for you."

"Really? Did she confess her role in killing one girl and kidnapping another? If she did, I'm interested but not in the squabbles over my ex husband, thanks."

Rose smiled. "Well you may be interested about yesterday when she forced her way into my apartment and attacked me."

"Why did she attack you anyway?"

"Is this an interview? What rank are you anyway?"

"I'm a DS and I kept my maiden name so there weren't two DS Hardy's. I'm glad I kept it now. Can't see how he got a promotion when I didn't."

"So am I and I worked harder than she did," Alec whispered in Rose's ear.

He put his arm around her, glad he wasn't on the side that hurt as she leaned her head on his shoulder. A door opened and a nurse came out and picked up a folder. Rose squeezed his hand.

"Alec Hardy."

Alec got up, bringing Rose with him. They followed her down a corridor and the nurse pointed to a small ward.

"In there please and put the gown on, you can keep your underwear on, there's a basket for your clothes if your girlfriend wants to look after them or I can put them in a locker for you."

"No, it's fine, I'll take them," Rose told her as Alec began pulling the curtain around, something he was making a habit of. Rose wasn't sure if he wanted her there or not and sat on one of the chairs as he disappeared. He opened the curtain a crack, handing her a neatly folded set of clothes, minus his shorts, Rose noted. She put them in the basket and left it on the chair and went through the gap to see him sitting on the bed. He patted the space next to him and Rose sat down.

"Too late now Alec, to back out."

"Well I am not backing out, this is it, my chance to prove I love you. Tell Tess that I never decided to go ahead until I met you."

"Yeah, like she'll believe that. She'd better believe that I may have seen the missing evidence bag though I'm not certain it was that."

"Just tell her, it's then up to her."

"Won't she be mad if I'm wrong?"

"That depends if I survive or not but don't worry, I'm not giving up that easily. Now, come here."

They had just parted when the curtain was moved back and a nurse and a porter were standing there.

"Time to go Alec."

"Can I walk with him?"

"Sure, we're not going far. We'll come and find you when it's over."

Before she knew it, they were wheeling him into the theatre after she insisted she gave him one last kiss, the nurse taking pity on her. She had whispered she loved him and said she would be out in the waiting area which turned out to be just through the door opposite, seeing Tess looking at her phone. Rose thought there must at least be a signal in that part of the building as Tess appeared to be texting. She looked up as Rose approached and put the basket on the seat where Alec had been sitting.

"He didn't back out then?"

"Nope, they said they'd come and find us, when he gets out. Why did you come Tess?"

Tess put her phone in her jacket pocket.

"Truthfully? How could I face our daughter if I'd let him die on his own?"

"He has me now, he wouldn't be on his own but I can understand. I had someone, back home and we were separated, no way back but he had a twin and we found each other and we knew that was what he wanted for us."

"Then what happened?"

"James broke his promise to me and went to find him and I couldn't forgive him. We both said we'd never try but he wanted some answers."

"Didn't you?" Tess asked as her message tone went. "It's from Daisy, she's upset and her gran said she should have come with me. She's right, I should have brought her with me."

"For what? She's going through enough back home, she wouldn't have felt any better being here, trust me. Alec said I had something to tell you."

"He did start to mention it. Is it about Claire then?"

"Yeah, when she was confronting me, I saw something in her jacket pocket, like a plastic bag with one of those zip-lock things."

"Like a police evidence bag?" Tess asked, her face lighting up.

"Maybe, like I told Alec and his DS, it was only for a second. When I told Alec he said he always suspected Claire was more involved than she told him."

"Did he tell you why he took her to Broadchurch?"

"Hiding her from her husband, she felt threatened when Alec said he was getting transferred. Why did you let him take the blame for what you did? It almost killed him Tess."

Tess got up suddenly and walked to the drinks machine, fishing for some coins in her pocket and making her selection.

"Want some?" she called over. Rose shook her head.

Tess walked back, still looking slightly angry.

"You have a nerve, asking me that when you hardly know him Rose. Do you think I never felt guilty about it? He chose to do it, I never asked him to cover up for me. That was the night he found out, about me and Dave and he still took the blame because he didn't want Daisy to know. I hid Dave from her for months, then she found out on her own and because she thought her father had left her, she wanted nothing to do with him. I swear Rose, I never knew there was anything wrong with him."

"Maybe you should have taken notice?"

"Maybe I should. Have you told your mother yet? About Alec getting you pregnant?"

"You make it sound horrible Tess. I chose to be with Alec that night, Claire dragged me down to Weymouth, tried to set me up with a complete moron and was going to leave me there with no money to get back. I called Alec, he'd given me his number the day before, after we'd met at Claire's place and he said if I had any trouble with her, to call him."

"So you did? It's still no reason to jump into bed with him."

"Jealous? Look Tess, this is why he didn't want you here and as for my mum, she's gone to stay with her cousin in the peak district, I've no idea if she's coming back or not. At this present moment Alec is all I have."

Tess got up to throw her empty paper cup into the trash can and looked like she was debating whether to just leave or not but sat back down, looking at the basket containing Alec's clothes. Rose had put his wallet, watch and mobiles, after turning them off, into her shoulder bag, knowing she had to return his work one to the station and have someone collect his car. He had told her he'd come down with Ellie, using the excuse he didn't know how long he would be waiting. She got her own phone out and retrieved Ellie's number, thinking she at least deserved to know, if it was bad news.