Alec pulled away, holding Rose back. ''This doesn't change anything Rose, I'll not let you pay for my operation.''
''Ok, you win but wait until you've called the hospital on Monday, see what she says.''
''Well don't you dare call and make the arrangements, I'll find out.''
''I wouldn't do that Alec. So are we still going out tomorrow?''
''If you insist, since you won't let me stay on my own. Come over in the morning, you can make breakfast.''
''I thought you needed to get groceries?''
''I have enough for tomorrow though you'll have to make do with toast and eggs.''
Rose put her arms around his neck, Alec found himself buried in her neck, kissing it without even realising.
''So are you going to be ok tonight?''
''I'll be fine, give me your mobile number though.''
Rose let go for him to get his phone out of his pocket and he handed it to her, Rose tapping the number into it and saving it.
''Call me, for the slightest thing, ok?''
''Yes, ok, I get the message Rose. I suppose I don't have to leave just yet, if you want to still go out?''
''No, I'm not in the mood now, maybe we could watch something on TV?"
Two hours later, they were both stretched out on the seating, Alec leaning against the cushion and Rose snuggled against him, playing with his shirt buttons, daring herself to undo another one as his tie was now off and she'd undone the top two for him, after he'd half protested and given up battling her hands away. They had shared a few brief kisses, when he had dipped down to kiss her neck again and she buried her head in his chest and they had got comfortable. Not that it was going to make him change his mind about them getting involved and Rose getting her own way of paying for his operation. Well so he thought.
''Rose, I should really be going now, it's getting late.''
''Oh, sure you don't want to stay?''
''You'll get into trouble if I stay, I'm not registered in your caravan.''
''What's the difference? We're both paying for them, they can't complain. What they gonna do? Do a check on every caravan on the site?''
''Maybe not but they'll have some way of checking, never mind but I should get back.''
''Is your mattress just as uncomfortable as mine then? I'm using one of the single beds.''
She tried to move but he was still holding her around the waist, Rose thinking maybe he really didn't want to leave and was just saying he did like some kind of half-hearted attempt at 'I should really go now but I'll stay if you really insist but don't try too hard'.
''No, I dragged the single mattresses to the double bedroom and put them on top, they can put them back when I leave, how are you meant to sleep on a thin mattress that's too low down?''
Rose smiled to herself, trust him to be so clever, maybe he'd move hers if she asked nicely but he shouldn't really have moved two heavy mattresses on his own, not in his condition anyway.
''Don't suppose you want to help me move mine then do you?''
Alec raised his eyebrows as if to say, ''after what happened earlier?'' Rose didn't think so.
She tried to move his arm to get up but he held her firm. ''You want to keep a close eye on me then?''
''Yeah, I said so, didn't I but you're insisting you leave though you're not making that much of an effort, are you?''
''You could make sure I get back to my caravan, you could sleep in the lounge, it's just as comfortable as a mattress.''
''Really? Is that the best you can offer a girl?''
''Well since I've got the two other mattresses, that would imply you want to share?''
''Is that an invitation or a bribe?''
''What do you think? I'm not in the mood to move another two mattresses Rose, take it or leave it, the offer is there. Just be sure you don't snore and hog all the duvet.''
''Is the heating on?''
''I seem to remember switching it on before I collapsed on the floor, it was cold when I got back the other night so I was taking no chances. Why?''
''If it's warm, I won't hog all the duvet, will I?''
''I'm still going to have trouble with you, am I not?''
Rose answered by pulling him down for another kiss. She went to gather what she needed for the morning and followed him round to his caravan, wondering why he was bothered about getting caught having someone overnight in his caravan, they were both paying customers and her car was registered, she wasn't moving it anywhere.
''So Alec, if you're so bothered about putting down who's staying in your caravan, you go put me down for yours and I'll put you down for mine, it will give the staff something to gossip about. I take it they know who you are?'' she asked, closing his caravan door behind her and locking it when he handed her the key.
''Yes and I'll lay odds they know who you are as well so be careful you don't get yourself in the local paper. I'd hate to have you accusing me I was trying to get my name in alongside yours.''
''Oh, I don't mind being associated with your name, at least you are someone.''
''Am I? Really? I'm a semi-retired detective who can't keep his job.''
''Don't put yourself down Alec, you'll be back at work as soon as you've had your surgery. I told you anyway, my stepfather is well in with the chief constable so if you want to come back here to work, you only have to say, you'll be back in before I put the phone down, your boss will be only to pleased to reinstate you.''
''I told you Rose, I'm not going to use you to get any favours done, I'm not like that.''
''You should try to be, since one of the offers could save your life. Which side of the bed do you sleep on?''
He leaned down, slipping his arms around her waist and kissed her neck, a slight grin on his face. ''The middle?''
Rose smiled back as she reached up to meet his lips. ''What a coincidence Alec, so do I.''
Alec woke up the next morning, the first time he'd not been woken during the night with a panic attack, that of finding the girl in the swollen river and his heart trying to keep up, he had normally woken in a cold sweat, crying out to the empty space next to him but this morning, he had woken up with the strange feeling of someone asleep on him and it felt strangely calming. Then he remembered it was the irritating new recruit who he had been certain had been planted in his classes to see if he was really capable of doing the job, which he was trying to prove he was but Rose Tyler had not helped him prove his point any.
If he wasn't extremely careful, he would be back on just sick pay and have to remain in this caravan, his housing allowance would be surely reduced and his savings wouldn't last long if he were to pay for that chalet on his own. Maybe he should just forget it and stay here a few more weeks then look for somewhere else, Rose had told him she'd found herself a flat.
He had made his mind up she was not going to get to him but if she wanted to tag along to take him to the college and march him into the hospital, who was he to argue? He had not been exaggerating when he'd told her all the men in the club and the bar had been looking at her on Thursday night and he'd been surprised she'd let him sit with her then go to find him later. He was right, she could have any man she wanted but here was Rose Tyler, asleep on him.
He felt her moving, he'd been awake ten minutes, not wanting to move his arm even though he'd lost any feeling in it and disturb her. She was beautiful and she knew it so why was she interested in him? She'd gone out of her way to get herself noticed last Tuesday, the sexy way she had rubbed her wrists when he unfastened the handcuffs and the way she had cheekily questioned his interrogation methods but he was no nearer finding out what she was doing in the college, if she hadn't been sent to annoy him, which he was certain she had but maybe Miller was right, maybe she belonged to a secret organisation and that was why the chief constable had been involved but could she get him his old job back or at least manage not to get him fired from the college if the superintendent thought they were involved?
Were they already involved though? Rose seemed to think she was when he tried to warn her off or maybe he'd not been insistent enough with her, he'd let his guard down and kissed her, she had kissed him back and they had fallen asleep together after lounging in her caravan. It had felt good, holding onto her waist, kissing her neck and smelling her fragrant shampoo and kissing her warm inviting lips. She was far too young for him, he knew that but would it be so bad? It would give his fading ego a boost, he'd been feeling low now he had nothing to do except teach recruits, thankfully all not like the woman who was waking up next to him, a smile of her face as she felt his arm around her and she had her arm over his waist.
''Hi Alec, hope you slept as well as I did, are you ok?''
''Yes, if I could have my arm back you've been sleeping on. Good morning Rose.''
''Sorry, I'll move. Do you need to take your pills yet?''
''No, when I have something to eat, I've no idea what the time is, I can't reach my phone.''
Rose moved and grabbed her mobile. ''It's almost eight, there's no rush is there, this is nice.''
She flopped back down again and slid her arm under him, Alec shuffling to let her and pulling her towards him, her head then resting in the crook of his neck. He leaned down to kiss her forehead. It was nice and a long time since he'd last had a woman in bed with him but how long would it last? Still, she hadn't run off yet but if she was looking for something more than a morning cuddle, she was out of luck but she probably already knew that now.
Suddenly, Rose moved over, almost lying on him and he was glad he'd bought some pyjama bottoms and left his shorts on as she landed on him, taking him by surprise as she reached for a kiss.
''Mmm, I could do more of this as well, any objections?''
''Not that I can think of when you are lying on me, I was right, you are distracting so do not let me be late taking my medication.''
''Not a chance mister, so are we still going out later?''
Two hours later, they had parked up by Weymouth railway station and Rose was heading for her favourite coffee shop with the famous red logo, Alec pulling faces at her suggestion he tried the vanilla flavour and complaining about the price of a pot of tea. Even though it was almost into October, it was a nice enough day as they walked down the seafront, Rose looping her arm through his and chatting away, telling him about her mother and younger brother and where she came from, just that it wasn't in this version of the world.
Rose now had a very big decision to make, well two decisions really, to carry on at the college as if nothing had happened and whether to let Alec Hardy in on her secret, one that could mean the end of their all too brief friendship because at this stage, that's all it was, except for the kissing.
They stopped for lunch and Alec told her about his daughter and her reluctance to speak to him.
''Aw, I wouldn't read too much into that Alec, I remember what I was like when I was that age, I'd skipped school and taken up with a guitar player much to my mother's annoyance but I came round and saw sense then got myself back to finish school and got a job in a big London store. She'll come round. Have you told her what's wrong with you?''
''No, would it make any difference?''
Rose was appalled. ''Of course it will Alec, you need to tell her, she deserves to be told and so does your ex, no matter how bad you parted company. Call them.''
''Yes and what do I say to them? Oh by the way I need life-saving surgery but I may or may not survive it? I can see that going down well.''
''Then go and see them, where do they live?''
''Just outside Sandbrook, I did not want to stay there after what happened.''
''Why, what happened?''
''Are you sure you've not been living in a parallel world Rose? Everyone knows what happened, a killer got away because evidence went missing, on my watch. Two cousins, one found in the river three days after she went missing, the other still not found. It was big news Rose and I had to leave, it was too much.''
''Sorry, I really didn't know about it, I mean I heard something but I didn't know it was you. Who lost the evidence, not you?''
''My ex wife, she left it in her car when she went to meet the man she was having an affair with, I took the blame so our daughter would not find out it was her mother.''
''Does she know now?''
''No idea, she doesn't talk to me, remember?''
''Then Wednesday, we go see them, tell them about your surgery.''
''What's with the 'we go tell them'?''
''How else are you going to get there? I'll stay out of the way if you want me to, they have to be told, it's not fair if something were to happen to you.''
''I've made my will and the police will take care of my benefits, don't fuss over it Rose, I've not even got a date yet, it may take a while still.''
''Alec, at least they'll know what to expect though, you can't spring it on them the day before. We could go Tuesday afternoon after college, take an overnight bag and stay up there, I think I know where it is. Let's see what your consultant says then ask her how long it will be if it's paid for.''
''You and I are going to fall out over this Rose, if you are not very careful.''
''Alec, you don't know anything about me. Me and my mum, we lived on a London council estate until she was introduced to Pete Tyler then before we knew it, we had everything we could ever want and I got adopted by him and given a top job and until now, nothing made any sense, why suddenly I was who I was but now, I've got a cause, you. Let me help you Alec, please? Is it so bad for you to accept you need someone to take care of you?''
Maybe she was right? He had never really had to struggle, even when Tess was off work bringing up Daisy, they had still managed but Rose had said she had nothing and had suddenly found herself becoming one of the richest women in the country and now, she wanted to spend some of it paying for his operation. Maybe it meant something to her but something else was bothering him, if she worked for Vitex, why was she training in the police?
They got up and Rose wanted to go look around the shops, Alec pulling faces and said ok but he drew the line at going in the lingerie department of a well-known store. As they walked back towards the shopping area though, Alec baled out and said he wanted to get a few things and they would meet in an hour by the coffee shop they had been in earlier.
He really wanted time to think about what Rose had been saying, about telling his daughter she may soon be without him and since she had hardly spoken to him in almost two years, they needed to put things right if the surgery didn't go well, how would Daisy feel if he didn't get through it and she'd not known there was even something very wrong with him? What would Tess think even though they had not parted so amicably, she would still want to know if he wasn't going to survive and with or without the surgery, it had already caught up with him, after last night.
What if Rose had not found him? Would he have come round properly in time to swallow his medication? Maybe he should think very carefully before driving away the only person who cared enough to stay with him and pay for his much needed surgery, she'd said she had nothing else to spend her money on so why shouldn't she spend it on him or did he already think it was a lost cause and it would be a waste?
He made his mind up, if he couldn't get the surgery this week on his own, he'd agree to Rose footing the bill on one condition, she told him why she was really pretending to be a cadet in the training college. That settled, he bought himself some new plain t-shirts, a dark blue sweater and some black jeans then passing the accessories department, saw some nice brightly coloured scarves and thought maybe Rose would like one and proceeded to the cash desk, asking for the scarf to be wrapped separately as it was a gift for his girlfriend.
There, he had admitted it, since Rose thought she had that title already and made his way to their meeting place, seeing Rose already sitting outside with a red carton filled with what he presumed was vanilla coffee and a tray with a white teapot and a cup and saucer. He smiled, reached over to kiss her cheek and put down his purchases and sat next to her, noticing several carrier bags with various store names on them under the table. It seemed Miss Tyler had expensive tastes judging by the store names, a few he recognised Tess used to frequent when she got a bonus and went on a spending spree and he knew he was just asking for trouble taking up with Rose.
Well if she liked spending her money on expensive clothes and shoes, who was he to turn down the offer of getting his surgery paid for, she probably spent her whole month's allowance on clothes that cost nearly as much as a pacemaker operation anyway.