A/N: This is the last chapter [of this part of the story ;-)]. There is a short and somewhat goofy epilogue which will be posted shortly. Thank you all for reading, commenting and enjoying this tiny part of Alec's journey. Happy Halloween (if you celebrate it)!

"Under Your Skin"

Chapter 7

Duncan was enjoying himself thoroughly. He couldn't understand Hardy's dislike for Broadchurch's locals because whoever he had met so far was lovely. They were more willing to talk than he'd expected from a small coastal town like this. Come to think of it, they were actually very interested. In Hardy, not him. Bollocks, maybe his friend was right after all in his assessment of his new community.

He eyed the bloke he was talking to more closely. His name was Brian and he worked in forensics. As soon as Brian had found out that Duncan was a friend of Hardy's, he started chatting him up, telling him how much of a hardarse his friend was as a boss. Somewhere in there was some acknowledgment that Hardy was actually a good detective, but when Brian mentioned the nickname that Hardy'd been given - DI Shitface - Duncan's usual lighthearted demeanor faltered.

"Shitface?" he echoed incredulously.

Brian smiled awkwardly. "He did look like it most of the time."

"Yah, because he's got a serious health issue. Glad you're not a doctor, your bedside manner stinks," Duncan admonished a blushing Brian.

"He could've said something," Brian muttered under his breath defiantly.

Duncan glared at him, doing his best to give Brian a Hardy-worthy death stare. It must have worked because Brian paled and walked away with a mumbled excuse of needing to find his girlfriend.

Duncan sighed. Brian did have a point though. Hardy should have told his colleagues how ill he was. Maybe they could have talked some sense into him.

Right. Who was he kidding? Not even Ellie Miller could convince Hardy not to come back to work after his cardiac arrest. And she seemed to be the only person who he would have possibly listened to. Stubborn wanker.

Where was he anyway? Duncan scanned the crowd but he didn't see him. He noted Lucy Stevens dragging a teenaged boy with wet pants along, yelling at him. It must be Tom, Ellie Miller's boy.

He slowly circled the bonfire, searching the chatting and laughing groups of people. Not that Hardy was likely to be among them. He didn't believe in enjoying himself, the bloody knob. Duncan was getting more annoyed. If Hardy had ditched him and left, he was in for some bollocking.

A blonde middle-aged woman approached him.

"You're Alec Hardy's friend, right?" she asked. "I'm Maggie Radcliffe, editor of the Broadchurch Echo." She stuck out her hand.

A reporter. His dislike for the press wasn't as pronounced as Hardy's but he wasn't a friend of them either. Duncan nodded and accepted the greeting reluctantly.

"Duncan McCormick." She could hear the hesitation in his voice.

"Did Hardy's love for the press rub off on you or did you simply never like us?" Maggie asked teasingly.

Duncan grinned. He liked her straightforwardness. "Maybe a bit of both. He can get under your skin if you spend too much time with him."

Maggie chuckled. "I can see that. He's rather intense. How long have you known each other?"

Duncan tilted his head and smirked. "I'm not going to tell you anything about him. He would kill me if I did."

"Nah, you don't have to worry. He'd keel over first before he could do any harm," Maggie remarked sarcastically.

Duncan frowned. "This town has an odd way of making fun of people with serious health issues."

Maggie's expression changed. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to offend you. He usually responds well to snide remarks."

"He's good at pretending," Duncan mumbled, still fighting back his anger. Maggie took a step closer and put her hand on his arm.

"Maybe too good at times?" There was a question behind those words and Duncan wondered how much the woman knew about Hardy's past.

Duncan nodded silently, lost in his thoughts about the fall-out that the Sandbrook case had caused.

"You know, the reason why I came to talk to you was because I got a tad worried. Tom came back from the beach but Hardy didn't."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Duncan stood straight and she had all his attention now.

"I was talking to Hardy when he ran off to follow Tom Miller down the path to the beach. That was a while ago. Tom returned, all wet and scowling, but I haven't seen Hardy. Considering his heart condition, I felt concerned. Thought I'd let you know about it." She seemed truly worried and so was Duncan.

"Where's the path?" He was already moving before she could even point him into the right direction. He patted her shoulder quickly, muttered a "Thank you" and hurried towards the path.

The wind had picked up and rain clouds had moved in during the course of the evening. The light drizzle that had started while he was talking to Maggie had turned into thick drops. Duncan slid and stumbled down the gravelly path as fast as he dared in the dark and rain. His heart was beating fast in his chest, the worry over Hardy's fate fueling his anxiety. He tripped several times and when he finally reached the bottom, he was caked in mud and his best pair of pants had a big hole in the knee. Hardy better be half-dead of have a really good reason why he had pulled a stunt like this. Duncan was soaked and cold, despite the adrenaline rush that was surging through him.

The waves threw themselves against the shore driven by the wind and the high tide. The salty air clung to whatever part of him that wasn't wet yet. He tried to shield his eyes with his hand, searching the dark beach for Hardy.

In the end he almost tripped over him.

"Jesus, Alec. You bloody moron. What are you doing here?" Duncan shouted at the curled up figure of his friend.

Hardy was huddling in the sand, knees tucked up to his chest, head buried in between his legs. His dark pants and coat had camouflaged him well in the night. Hardy slowly lifted his head. His eyes were puffy and red. Or at least that's what Duncan assumed in the scant moonlight filtering through the clouds.

"He said, he hates her," Hardy breathed hoarsely. "Just like she did."

Duncan didn't need to think hard about who Hardy was referring to. He had no idea what triggered Tom's statement but he very well knew about Daisy.

Hardy's teeth were chattering and he was shivering. Duncan sighed.

"Why you always end up soaked and frozen next to bodies of water is a mystery to me. Especially as you hate the water so much."

Hardy shuddered in response. Duncan bent down and put his arms under Hardy's. He pulled him up easily, planting Hardy's thin body next to his broad form. He contemplated briefly to give Hardy his jacket but it was just as wet as Hardy's coat.

"Come on, let's get you home." His voice carried a fondness that had only grown stronger over the years. He slung his arm around Hardy's slender shoulders and they hobbled along through the wet sand and rain.

When they finally reached the blue shack, Duncan was dragging an utterly exhausted Hardy through the door. Yet again, he helped him strip out of his clothes, shoved him into the hot shower, helped him dry and get dressed, and tucked him in under a warm blanket on the sofa with a mug of steaming tea clutched in his hands.

Some color had returned to Hardy's face and he had stopped shivering. He was sipping his tea, staring ahead. He hadn't said a word since the beach.

"Alec, we have to talk. You can't do shit like this. What if I hadn't found you? You're not well enough to exert yourself by climbing up and down these cliffs and brooding in the rain on the beach," Duncan scolded his friend.

Hardy blinked. "He said, he hates me too. For taking his dad away," he whispered into his tea cup.

Duncan sighed. "Oh, Alec. You know he didn't mean it that way. He's a kid who's hurt and trying to make sense of this unthinkable event in his life."

Hardy raised his eyes. "And how do you know he didn't? How can I ever know if Daisy…" he trailed off, his words getting stuck in the back of his throat.

Duncan squeezed himself next to Hardy onto the sofa and put his arm around him. "Daisy will come around. She just needs time. And the truth, Alec," he added after Hardy's doubtful gaze met his.

Hardy set the cup onto the small coffee table and dragged his hands down his face. "'M not sure if I've got the time," he muttered almost unintelligible.

Duncan sat up straight. "What did you say?"

Hardy shook his head, pressing his lips together.

"You're a moron. I hate to be so blunt, but you are. Get that stupid heart of yours fixed and talk to your daughter," Duncan exclaimed, finally losing patience.

Hardy gaped at Duncan. Then he closed his mouth, shaking his head again, utterly at a loss for words. It was hard to see his friend so desperate.

"Alec, listen. I was planning on leaving tomorrow, but I can stay if you need someone to keep you company. I'll stick around for as long as you need me too." His offer was sincere.

Hardy's emotions played over his face. He didn't need to tell Duncan that he was afraid of being alone again. Then, after a long moment of struggling with himself, his expression took on the usual stoic look and he finally spoke.

"It's fine. You need to go back to your family and I need to sort out my life by myself. You're right, I can't always rely on someone finding me and putting me back on my feet." He found Duncan's eyes. "I promise I'm not going to do anything reckless."

He wore a sheepish face and for a split second Duncan wondered if Hardy was holding something back. He brushed the thought aside, not wanting to complicate things further.

"Good. I want you to call me, at least once a week and tell me how it's going. And I swear if I don't hear from you, I'll be back at your doorstep in no time. And this time I'll bring Ed Baxter."

The threat did its trick. Hardy seemed sufficiently intimidated to agree and Duncan believed him. He ushered him into bed and soon enough Hardy had drifted off. He stared at the still figure of his oldest friend, curled up around his pillow. He wished he could stay and watch over him until this nightmare was finally over because no matter how sincerely Hardy promised he would take care of himself, he never did. That's what he used to have a family for. To have someone to pull him away from the dark waters and take him home with them.

When Duncan closed the door quietly behind him, he wished more than anything that he at least had put Hardy on the right track. They'd found a place he could call his own. It was a start.

The next morning, Hardy woke up to his usual nightmare. He sputtered and coughed until he had settled down. He didn't want to think about the fact that Tom had found its way into his dreams as well.

He slowly stood up, padded to his bathroom and took his morning medications. His clothes were hanging up to dry. Hardy smiled at the image of Duncan fidgeting with his shirt and pants, but quickly sobered at the realization that his friend was leaving today. His eyes fell on his grey face in the mirror. He really didn't want to stay behind with just that to keep him company.

He turned abruptly and stalked to the kitchen. His fridge didn't hold any promising foods and he was out of milk. He threw the door shut and stared at it. Change was clearly necessary. A rap on his door jerked him out of his brooding thoughts.

It was Duncan, holding three big bags of groceries in his strong arms.

"Are you just gonna stand there and gape at me or help to get the stuff inside?" Duncan grumbled and kicked the door open with his foot. There were two more bags behind him.

Hardy watched him walk by, put down the groceries and go back for the next load.

"You could at least put some things away. Wouldn't want you to call me all the time about where I hid the Marmite."

Hardy gagged. His hand cupped his mouth to curb the strong urge to throw up. His already nauseated stomach couldn't even handle the idea of Marmite.

"That stuff is not going into my kitchen," he pressed through clenched teeth.

Duncan sniggered. "I'm only kidding, Alec. I know how you react to this." And he pulled out a jar with the dreaded yellow label and waved it in front of Hardy's face.

Hardy turned green. He sprinted to the bathroom and just about made it to the toilet.

"Oh, come on. Stop acting like a pregnant woman," Duncan hollered from the other room.

Hardy washed out his mouth and trudged back to the kitchen. He wordlessly took the jar, walked out the door to the waterfront and dropped it into the river. Then he proceeded to take all of his pills again after his stomach contents had been flushed down the sewers.

Duncan was still putting away various food items when Hardy plopped on a chair at the small table. He walked over to Hardy, a big grin on his face.

"Want some grapes instead?" He produced a bunch of beautiful green grapes from behind his back. Hardy snatched them from him, swiftly plucked a few off the stems and started throwing them at Duncan.

Duncan ducked and giggled. He caught a grape and shoved it into his mouth.

"They're delicious," he teased Hardy who was grinning from one ear to the other, rolling his eyes at him.

"Ellie Miller is taking Fred for trick or treating in Exmoor on Thursday night. You should keep her company," Duncan stated out of the blue.

Hardy froze, a grape in his hand. His arm fell to his side, heart rate rising.

"How do you know that?" he asked suspiciously.

"Lucy Stevens can be very talkative when promised a dance or two." Duncan grinned at Hardy's flushed face.

"Would you stop trying to play matchmaker for me and my former DS?" Hardy snapped at him.

"But my dear Alec, it's too tempting. You're rather endearing with your face all rosy and you getting flustered over the idea of going anywhere near her."

"Ach, stop it. She would throw something at you if she heard you," Hardy retorted.

"Precisely my point. She'd be perfect for you."

Hardy glared at his friend. Then he dropped his gaze, all lighthearted fun gone from his flushed face.

"It's really not what you think, Duncan. I'm lonely. She made me feel less like a pariah. Until she turned into one herself. She called us the former detective's club last time I talked to her." Hardy huffed and shot Duncan a quick daggered glance.

"Membership criteria are being shunned by your community, loss of job, a spouse that betrayed you and a child who hates you." His sarcasm was scathing.

"Alec stop -"

"No, Duncan. It's the reality and it's important to look at it and take it for what it is. There is nothing that connects me with this woman besides tragic circumstance. Not the best starting point for a friendship. And just because she came to me in a moment of despair doesn't mean she suddenly began liking me," Hardy ranted on.

Duncan sat down next to him, placing his hand on Hardy's. "And yet, you miss her," he said softly, his green eyes encouraging Hardy to accept the sentiment.

"I'm not sure if I miss her or more the feeling of not being lonely, of being needed by someone," Hardy confessed.

"Then go see her and find out." Duncan patted Hardy's hand and got up.

They put away the groceries in comfortable silence. It was time for Duncan to leave and Hardy's heart was heavy.

"I'm only a phone call away. Remember that. Eat your bananas, take your meds and stop brooding on the beach."

"Ach, shut it. I'm not a child." Hardy's voice was muffled against Duncan's chest while Duncan was dispensing another of his bear hugs to say goodbye.

"Could've fooled me." He grinned at Hardy's exasperated face. He quickly let go of Hardy and opened the gate. He halted and turned.

"If you should see Ellie Miller after all, tell her I've got a cup for her that would be perfect to be repurposed."

Hardy rolled his eyes and grunted in response. He listened to Duncan's laughter until it faded. His head dropped and he trudged over to the waterfront. The pinwheel was spinning in the sea breeze and the river was lapping against the stone wall. Hardy stared out over the glittering surface for a long time. Then he turned and walked back inside the little blue shack. He closed the door. Maybe his new home by this quiet river was the first step to coming back from the wild river that had taken so much of his life. He sure hoped so.

FIN