After he got Ellie to drop him off, Alec was debating to knock on his neighbour's door and invite her for a drink later on but her car wasn't there. Rose had done her grocery shopping and then gone for a walk along the esplanade, calling her mother and telling her how nice it was in the town.

''Well me and Tony may come down then, before it starts getting cold. Have you made any friends?''

''Sort of but he's a tutor, he lives in the next caravan to me, it's a bit weird really. I sort of made a nuisance of myself in his classes and I don't think he's talking to me any more.''

''Rose, be careful, you may get thrown out of the college. Who is he anyway?''

''The detective from that murder case, Alec Hardy.''

''Oh trust you to go pick on him, I thought he was out of the police?''

''He is, that's why he's teaching at the college, I'm in two of his classes, possibly a third. I know it's not allowed and if someone says anything, I'll take the blame but he's got something wrong with him and I don't know what it is. I don't want to look up his police record so I'll just have to see if he says anything about it. I'm not doing it because of who he looks like, if that's what you're thinking Mum.''

''What makes you think I was going to say anything?''

Rose smiled to herself and said goodbye and getting an ice-cream, deciding to cut through by the supermarket instead of walking all the way around, she bumped into Alec, who had run out of milk after Ellie Miller's visit, having to give some to her young son.

''Hi again, you didn't come into the bar last night.''

''Very observant Miss Tyler, you'd make a good detective if you took it seriously.''

''And you didn't think you had a sense of humour. Buy me another drink later?''

''Is than an invitation or a bribe?''

''Take it which way you want. I'll be in the bar from half seven if you'd care to join me or do you prefer being on your own every night?''

''What makes you think I never go out?''

''Maybe because your lights have been on every night except for Thursday, so your choice.''

''Are you playing bingo again?''

''Probably, you can join if you want?''

''I'll give it a miss but I'll wait in the other bar until you've won again.''

''I just enjoy playing, I don't do it to win, I gave my winnings away last time towards buying prizes for the kids. I've got a younger stepbrother, he'd love it down here.''

They had reached Rose's caravan, it was getting on for five and she'd not decided what to have to eat so she took a wild stab in the dark and asked if Alec had anything planned.

''So Alec, are you cooking for yourself tonight?''

''I expect so but I need to go grocery shopping again, I've been out most of the day.''

''I noticed you had company, female.''

''We used to work together, the woman whose husband got caught for killing that boy. Her son won't talk to her, I'm trying to make things right.''

''You don't have to explain it to me Alec.''

''I wouldn't want you to think she was my girlfriend or anything.''

''It's a free country, the last time I checked. The reason I asked is because I hate cooking for myself, care to join me?''

''We could eat in the bar or one of the pubs across the river. Don't make anything special for me.''

''It wouldn't have been much, just chicken and rice. Tell you what, you go back to the shop and get a bottle of white wine and some lemonade and come round at seven.''

''What about playing bingo?''

''Aw, I wouldn't like to give the impression I'm showing off, would I? We can go down later, maybe catch the show?''

''Don't let me stop you.''

''It's no fun on your own, what else is there to do?''

Alec supposed she had a point. So he said he would see her later and went back to the shop, picking up the wine and a box of chocolates, since she had offered to cook for him. He thought since he'd accepted, she might let slip what she was doing at the college, she was no ordinary recruit. Rose decided to call Pete after putting the rice on to simmer, just in case she was tempted to tell Alec Hardy what she was really at the college for. It never got to that. Alec had sat down to check his messages on his phone, trying to ignore his irregular heartbeat and putting it down to being nervous at getting invited to his neighbour's caravan for dinner.

That's all it was, he told himself as he reached in his pocket for his pills, he was starting to remember he could take them now without hiding them but he'd done it for so long, it had become second nature to him but as he got up to get a glass of water, he felt dizzy.

Rose had dinner ready, she had told him seven but expected him to be early, trying to impress her though why, she had no idea. They were clearly attracted to each other but playing some kind of game between them, well she was, that of trying to get him to notice her. Tuesday had been innocent enough but Thursday had been a bonus and she had enjoyed being 'interrogated' by him as much as him clamping the handcuffs on her.

Ten past seven, no knock on the door but she looked out and could see no movements in his caravan, she had put the living area lights on, his was still in darkness. She knew he had something wrong with him but it had never registered with her what it was so she was cursing herself for not taking the time to find out. Maybe she should check on him? She picked up her mobile and her key, locked the door and walked round, thinking he'd surely not welcome her checking on him if he was just getting changed or something but as she approached the door, she heard a noise and banged loudly, calling his name.

''Alec, are you ok in there?'' No answer. She tried the door, it was unlocked and she pulled it towards her, let it swing outwards and went up the two steps, seeing him on the floor.

''Alec!''

She got her phone out of her pocket, ready to dial the emergency services when she heard him groaning ''Pills, my inside jacket pocket, quick.''

Rose reached in his pocket, bringing a blister pack out and dashed for some water, grabbing a cup, filling it and popping two tablets into the palm of her hand. Alec was trying to sit up so she helped him and held the cup with him while he swallowed the pills, him looking slightly worse for wear. He sat for a few minutes, letting go of the cup and put his hands over his face.

''Thanks,'' he managed, motioning to Rose he wanted to get up.

Rose helped him onto the seating area. ''Feeling better? What the hell was all that about? Care to explain?''

''No, I thought it was self explanatory, doesn't everyone know what's wrong with me?''

''Not me, I missed that bit, not all of us read the local papers, I doubt it was syndicated to 'The Times' so come on, out with it.''

''I've got heart arrhythmia, I need a pacemaker and I'm waiting for an appointment.''

''Are you kidding me? Why haven't you had it done yet?''

''Because I just found out I've got a better chance of surviving than I was originally told, I kept putting it off. Now I've been put on the waiting list, that's what you get for putting it off but if I'd known my chances I would have applied before, I wasn't ready to give up.''

''What about medical insurance? Surely it's covered by the police?''

''No, I failed to declare it, my insurance is invalid and it wouldn't cover that kind of operation anyway. I'm fine, I'll last a bit longer until they call me, if there's a cancellation, I'll get to know.''

''How can you live like that? How long?''

''Eighteen months or so, I've been covering it up to my bosses but they found out the day before I arrested Danny Latimer's killer, that's why they put me in the training college, to keep me out of the way. Then you come along.''

''Sorry, I didn't help, did I? How was I to know?''

Alec took her hand. ''You were not to know, I never publicised it, only to the local reporter and like you said, it probably was not that newsworthy. You invited me to dinner?''

''Yeah, it's ready, I wondered where you'd got to, I know what time the shop closes and your caravan was in darkness, good job I did. How long had you been out cold?''

''I don't know, maybe twenty minutes or so, it's happened before.''

''Alec, you can't go on like that, what if you don't come around the next time? You need to call the hospital, is it the one in Exeter?''

''Yes but I can't do anything now until Monday, I'll call and say I had another episode, I was told to let them know if I did.''

''Well I've got nothing planned tomorrow, I'll just have to keep an eye on you, won't I? Are you ok to walk around to my caravan? You may as well leave the wine, you shouldn't be drinking it now.''

''So I don't get a day off from you tomorrow then?'' he asked, getting up and pulling her up with him.

''Nope, so tough, get used to it and don't think I'll give you an easy time either.''

''Oh I know you won't, Miss Tyler. So are you going to tell me who you are?''

''While we eat, you really don't know who I am then?''

Alec shook his head and picked up his pills, putting them back in his pocket and picked up his mobile. ''No idea except you're a troublemaker,'' he grinned, gesturing for her to go first, then picking the box of chocolates up from the side of the door. ''For you.''

''Thanks, we can share them later. Are you sure you're ok?''

''I'm fine and I don't need anyone fussing over me, I'll be ok, I was late taking my medication, that's all, I need to remember next time.''

''Well I'll keep reminding you tomorrow, maybe we can go for a drive somewhere, maybe down the coast?''

''I need to go get some groceries and not from the camp shop either.''

''Then we'll go there first, you shouldn't be doing it on your own but if you wait until Monday, I'll go do it for you.''

''I'm capable of getting my groceries thanks. Ok, we both go on Monday morning, after I call the hospital but they still may not be able to get me in right away. I have classes on Tuesday and Thursday and I got roped into doing that extra class again, the one you were messing about in.''

Rose was serving up the food, thankful it hadn't got spoiled. ''Huh? You were encouraging me, everyone could see that.''

''Could they? Did you behave like that in your next class?''

''You'd know, you were spying on me, don't think I didn't notice you sneaking in.''

''Yes and you were behaving yourself for a change.''

''Only 'cos I knew you wouldn't be able to resist checking if it was just your lessons I was disrupting. I was right.''

''Ok, I'll give you that and I'd just got a lecture about letting you be disruptive, you may get told about it on Tuesday.''

''No matter, they can't kick me out.''

''But they can throw me out, where does that leave me? This is very good by the way. Did you make this from scratch?''

''Yes, are you implying it's store made? Don't worry, I won't let them throw you out, I'll take the blame, I'll say I did it on purpose to get you going.''

''What makes you so sure they'll believe you?''

''I've got special permission to be there, from the chief constable, the superintendent can't suspend either of us, if I stick up for you.''

''Is that so then? You may as well tell me now who you are.''

''Who I'd like to be is your friend.''

''Really? You have a funny way of showing it. Are you going to keep me guessing all night?''

''It could be fun but no, I'll put you out of your misery. Are you sure my name doesn't ring any bells? Rose Tyler?''

''Should it? I don't exactly keep up with the social pages of the trashy newspapers. Are you supposed to be famous?''

Rose smiled. ''You tell me, obviously I'm not as famous as I thought I was, am I?''

''So are you related in some way to the Vitex chairman?''

''Well done, we'll make a detective out of you yet, you've not gone rusty being relegated to a college tutor. By the way, your interrogation methods are a bit odd.''

''I like to put suspects at ease, they trip themselves up in the end.''

''Is that what you did with that boy's killer? Left him to trip himself up?''

''Yes and it worked, it just took me longer than I estimated but I was also trying to hide my illness.''

''Maybe if you'd been honest about it, you'd have your operation over and done with by now and it would have been paid for.''

''Maybe but back then I was not ready to give in, things have changed now.''

''Yeah, you're getting worse and I dread to think no-one will find you next time, you need someone with you until you get the procedure done.''

''Don't get involved with it Rose, I'll be fine.''

''Tough, I'm already involved in case you'd not noticed and to hell with college regulations, I'm taking you there, at least on Tuesday and no arguments, we'll sort something out for Thursday.''

''I get taken by taxi, don't worry, you only go Thursday afternoon, I'm meant to take that class again.''

''Well see if you can get your appointment for Thursday afternoon, while you're over there, I'll come with you.''

''There's no need for you to take me Rose.''

''Maybe I want to make sure you don't back out but don't worry, I won't go easy on you in the classes.''

''I know you won't but you are asking for trouble.''

Rose smiled. ''Trouble's just the bits inbetween, I told you, I'll make sure the superintendent is taken care of, I only have to call my stepfather. She's already been told I'm to get special treatment so I don't know why she's spoken to you.''

''You may be getting special treatment but I have to prove I'm still worth keeping on staff.''

''Well when you've had your surgery, you can apply for your old job back, can't you?''

''I was meant to stay three months at the college, they are not expecting me to re-apply for my old job back just yet and besides, I may not get it done right away anyway, I may still have to wait my turn.''

''Not if you pay for it doing you won't.''

''I told you, the insurance won't cover it.''

''Who said anything about insurance? I'm the Vitex heiress in case you'd not been paying attention.''

''So? Do you think I would try to take advantage of the fact?''

''Yes, why not?''

''Lots of reasons, I can't ask you to pay for it Rose, it's not my nature to accept that kind of help.''

''Really Alec? So they would let you get worse rather than give you an appointment, surely you've been waiting longer than others?''

''Possibly but they probably did not keep ignoring advice and turning it down.''

''Why did you do that, if you knew you were so bad?''

''I told you, the other consultant I saw did not give me very good odds, unlike this one so I put it off. I had another unsolved case I wanted to finish.''

''And that's more important than getting yourself fixed? What case is that?''

''Never mind. Do you still want to go out?''

''No, I've changed my mind.''

''Right then, thanks for the food, I'll get out of your way then.''

''Leaving so soon?''

''You don't need me in your way.''

''You're gonna go back to your caravan and feel sorry for yourself and leave me here on my own? Don't you enjoy my company?''

''Rose, you don't need me to keep you company, there are plenty of men in that club who would jump at the chance to do so.''

''How do you know?''

''I was watching them the other night, believe me, they wished they'd been sitting with you instead of me.''

''I chose to sit with you Alec, I was just hoping when you stood in front of me it wasn't someone who had been trying to chat me up in the hotel. I'm sure they all knew who I was.''

''No doubt they did but I'll keep out of your way, I would not like to spoil your fun.''

''You think it's fun having men trying to chat me up because of who I am?''

''It's not?''

''No, it isn't, they don't care about me, Rose Tyler, they care about who I am so they can get their name alongside mine. You didn't even know who I was and it's a nice change, really. I don't want anyone chatting me up Alec.''

Alec had got up and put his jacket back on.

''Please don't leave.''

''You don't need me hanging around Rose, I'll call the consultant on Monday morning, don't worry but I doubt anything will come of it.''

''Then let me pay for it, don't be so stubborn Alec, think of it as an investment in the college.''

''I can't accept it Rose, really.''

''Why on earth not Alec, when it can save your life, I might not come looking for you next time and how do you think that would make me feel?''

''I told you, don't get involved with me. Goodnight Rose, thanks again for dinner.''

Rose got up, determined not to give up, grabbed his jacket lapels and pulled him down towards her.

''I want to get involved with you, what do you think I've been trying to do since I entered your classroom on Tuesday morning?''

''I don't know Rose, what have you been trying to do?''

Alec leaned down, a fraction away from Rose's lips.

''You've been trying to drive me crazy since you walked into my classroom Rose.''

''Did it work?''

She soon got her answer when his lips brushed hers lightly and she melted into him.