Tess wasn't feeling as guilty meeting with Dave as Alec wasn't going to bed the same time as her anyway, then she would pretend to be asleep to avoid him. She knew he wouldn't bother waking her, not like he used to do anyway when she'd gone upstairs before him.
She had been further convinced Alec was messing around with his DC when the traffic sergeant had dropped hints how they were taking their time when they got back after a callout and had heard them laughing. Daisy had noticed and Alec had tried to explain to her it wasn't anything to do with Rose.
So on Saturday morning, Tess had gone off shopping on her own and Daisy wandered into the front room.
"Are you leaving mum?" the teenager asked him as he read the morning paper.
"What makes you think that?" he asked, looking over the top of the paper at her, his reading glasses propped on his nose.
"Mum's in a worse mood than ever when she picks me up after school," the girl complained.
"Is she still late or does she stop and talk to your gran?" Alec wanted to know.
"What does she tell you?" Daisy asked cautiously, not wanting to get into trouble for telling tales on her mother.
"Never mind what she tells me," Alec replied as he put the paper down and took off his glasses.
"Will I get into trouble from mum?" Daisy wanted to know.
"No, just tell me the truth Daisy. What does she say on the way home then? I can tell she doesn't stop for long," he told her.
"She stops every so often but the rest of the time she's late, then she's in a bad mood if I ask her why she was late," Daisy admitted.
"Is she now?" Alec raised his eyebrows. "I will talk to her about it. Does she mention Rose at all?"
Daisy tried not to look guilty.
"Sorry Dad, I should have said I suppose?" she replied.
"Never mind, your mother told you not to say anything, did she not?" Alec guessed.
Daisy just nodded.
"Please don't argue with mum over it," she pleaded with him.
"Daisy, just tell me what she said about Rose eh?" Alec replied. "If it makes you feel any better, just tell her to stop and change the subject."
"I'll try Dad," Daisy promised. "She just goes on complaining that Rose spends too much time with you and she waits in your office at home time. Then she sees the two of you laughing and she's convinced it's about her. Is it?" Daisy wanted to know.
"Of course not," Alec assured her. "She's just convinced herself it's about her. Rose and I are just talking about work or about how her mother didn't want to go home and she might be coming back to stay. Rose just jokes about how her mother can't decide."
"Her mother seemed nice," Daisy replied as she seemed to take his explanation. "Did you see the way she was determined to see what was going on the other Sunday? Mum still says you planned that on purpose," she laughed.
"It was just a coincidence," Alec insisted. "She was convinced that was what Rose and I were talking about on that Friday evening, She will get over it," Alec hoped. "Daisy, you have to understand that if she continues, it will get more difficult for us to get on? Something will have to be done about it, it won't be fair on you."
"I know Dad I get it," Daisy told him.
He could only hope she did get it.
"Whatever happens, it will not be anything you have said or done," he tried to assure her.
"I liked Rose but please tell me that mum's wrong about her, that you're not planning anything," Daisy replied.
"I am not planning anything," Alec told her as Daisy sat beside him.
He gave her a hug and she seemed satisfied. He wondered if Tess was going to try and turn her against him, he wouldn't put it past her just to get back at him.
Tess had gone into the town centre and was just having a coffee outside a café when she saw Dave walking past with his wife. He'd told her several times that his wife was getting suspicious so they'd had to settle for spending a short time together at lunchtime alongside meeting at the remote spot they'd found if they both got off work slightly earlier. He'd said that was all he could do unless she wanted to leave Alec, then he'd promised he see about leaving his wife.
Tess had doubts he would actually do it but there was only one way she would find out and that was to threaten to leave Alec if he didn't stop messing around with Rose Tyler. Could she actually do it? Would Daisy choose to stay with her or with Alec?
Dave had seen her but had chosen to ignore her or his wife would question him over it. He knew Tess would never leave Alec, not unless something drastic happened, such as her catching her husband with his DC. It wouldn't surprise him in the least if the DI was messing around with the blonde, she was about the most attractive female officer in the building but Tess had been an easy target.
So, Tess was already in a bad mood when she got home. Daisy had gone to see her friend so she took the chance to confront Alec yet again. She began after putting the shopping away and wanted to see if he'd planned on meeting with the blonde.
"Are we going out tomorrow?" she asked him when she went into the front room.
"Why? Did you not get anything for Sunday lunch?" Alec wanted to know.
"Don't evade the question Alec," she reminded him.
"I was not planning on it," he replied, thinking she was trying to catch him out.
He knew what she was trying to find out. Rose had brought her friends into their plan to give Tess something to worry about and it seemed to be working, since Tess thought they spent all lunchtime talking about her. He had noticed that Tess was missing some lunchtimes though.
"Oh. So you're not planning on 'bumping' into Rose Tyler then?" she asked sarcastically.
"What is wrong with you Tess?" he asked her.
"With me?" Tess laughed. "I've heard how you always take your time in the garage when you both come back in."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Alec wondered what she meant by it.
"You know very well Alec," Tess huffed. "Hasn't she got an excuse this week then?"
"Why do you have to drag Rose into everything?" he then wanted to know. "Get over it Tess, I know you are still mad over the chief stopping us working together and he was right to do so."
"Oh, so you did agree with him over that?" Tess replied. "No wonder he accepted someone new."
"Yes and you objected until Rose came along," Alec reminded her.
Tess sat opposite him.
"That's why he accepted her to join our team," she realised. "To get back at me for stopping everyone else in the office working with you."
Alec thought she already knew that.
"You stopped anyone who dared to ask," he replied. "Then others never bothered even asking. Some of those who wanted to go for a promotion have been held back because of you."
"Don't go blaming me Alec," Tess told him. "You could have insisted we still worked together, if you'd wanted. Oh, you didn't want to?" she saw the look on his face.
"Tess, it was not working," he told her. "We argued all the time when we were out and it carried over to the office and you know it."
"So now you're getting back at me by having Rose Tyler as your partner?" Tess replied. "So you deny you're messing around with her?"
"What? No, of course not, we only work together," Alec told her. "Stop trying to put her off working towards a promotion."
"She may have joined us to get a promotion Alec but why did the chief have to put her with you? Weren't there any more new officers? He could have chosen anyone in the office if he'd wanted to."
"He tried and you complained," Alec reminded her. "Tess, is all this to cover something up?" he then dared ask her. "You think by blaming Rose for stopping you and I working together, he will change his mind about it?"
"I already tried that Alec," Tess admitted. "Remember you told me I could choose any partner I wanted?"
"Yes and did you even bother?" Alec replied.
"I wanted to but I knew what you would say," Tess replied. "I thought I'd told you I choose Dave Harris?"
So, Rose and her friends were right then, Alec thought. He had hoped that Tess disappearing at lunchtime was just her talking somewhere with her friends, he never stopped long enough to find out lately. Rose was busy talking with her friends and laughing about something and she was about his only ally in the place these days.
He wondered what Tess had been telling her friends and if they had speculated about what he and Rose talked about outside of the office. They'd obviously put two and two together and got five when one of them had sent that text to Tess about he and Rose laughing and talking in the corridor.
"Dave Harris is in another division," Alec reminded her, thinking Tess was trying to get a reaction from him of some kind.
"Didn't you say he could get a transfer?" Tess asked.
"You could always get a transfer to his division," he reminded her.
No, that would be too easy and she wouldn't be able to annoy him as much at work, he thought.
"Anyone would think you don't want to see me at work Alec," Tess replied. "Oh, so that's it? You don't want me to see you with your little blonde DC?" she added.
"Stop it Tess," Alec warned her. "Rose has nothing to do with it and you know it. You know how the chief feels about us working together, moving to another division would be of more benefit. You do know that from Monday that applications for training are being accepted?"
He knew already that Tess was mad about that and she would lose control of some of those working in the same office.
"You're just trying to undermine me Alec," Tess replied.
"No Tess, I am trying to encourage those who want a promotion," Alec told her, shaking his head. "I expect there will be a number of applications."
Rose and her mother had been shopping, Jackie happy to find some new shops to look in.
"So do ya like it here Mum?" Rose asked as they stopped at a coffee shop.
"Yeah, it's nice here, not as crowded," her mother laughed. "So, what happens here? Nothing bad I hope?"
"I've not been here that long," Rose laughed back. "From what I've been reading in the reports though, not much by the look of it. Hope it stays like this. I can't believe I got a case of my own to work on."
"Yeah, that was lucky," Jackie agreed. "How are ya gettin' on with it?"
"Fine, my boss says I'm doing well with it. It should all be cleared up on Monday. Bet that puts Tess in a bad mood."
They both laughed at the thought.
"Wonder if they've been back to that pub so she can see if we're there again," Jackie joked.
"Wouldn't put it past her," Rose replied. "I'm not going back there, just in case. Hope we don't see her at the supermarket, that's all I need. She didn't like it when I started standing up for myself."
"Yeah, bet she didn't," Jackie agreed. "Good for you sweetheart. When ya pass the exam, you'll be the same rank as her."
"Well, I'll be told when I'm ready, I have a good teacher," Rose replied. "Not sure if I have what it takes to be a DI though. Tess obviously doesn't have it," Rose smiled at the though.
"That's some consolation," Jackie laughed.
"Come on Mum, let's get the supermarket over and done with."
"Well at least the prices are cheaper here," Jackie replied.
The following week, Rose got praised for solving the case she'd been given, insisting her friend Kate deserved just as much praise. On the Tuesday morning, when everyone had arrived, Alec called for their attention. Tess was watching Rose's reaction to Alec standing in front of everyone. There was something going on, Tess had convinced herself.
Dave had told her to watch how Rose looked at Alec from now on and she would be able to tell if her husband was cheating on her. That lunchtime, they sneaked into the garage again but Tess had stopped him before he went too far, as usual.
"Tess, relax why don't you?" Dave had told her. "Geez, you're as bad as my wife, she won't let me go any further either. I may as well stick with her."
"You're a selfish s.o.b," Tess replied, adjusting her clothing. "What do expect against a garage wall?"
"I'm the one leaning against the wall," he reminded her. "Think yourself lucky the traffic sergeant hasn't caught us yet."
"Don't talk to me about him," Tess told him. "He's telling me all kinds of things about Alec and his little girlfriend when they park the car."
Dave couldn't help but burst out laughing when they got outside.
"What did I tell you Tess?" he laughed even more. "How long are they out? More than just asking questions, I'll bet."
"Stop it Dave," Tess was about to slap him.
"You don't still want to have sex with him?" Dave sounded surprised.
"None of your business," Tess replied, walking off towards the canteen as someone came out.
She tried to make it look like that she had not just been having sex with Dave in the garage but someone would notice something odd about them always using that door at the back if they weren't more careful about going in separately.
Rose was miles away as Jo nudged her when she saw Tess appear.
"What's she looking around for?" Jo asked them all.
"Yeah, she's always disappearing," Kate agreed. "Wonder what she's up to?"
"Bet she is seeing Dave Harris then?" Trish wondered.
"I wouldn't be that surprised," Jo replied, seeing Rose wasn't joining in. "What do you think Rose?"
"What?" Rose found her voice and snapped out of her stare. "Tess and Dave Harris? Probably. Mind you, if she is sneaking around with him, why is she always having a go at me?"
"What's she been saying to you Rose?" Kate asked her.
"She only tried to drag me into her grudges against DI Hardy on Friday night," Rose admitted.
"Again?" Trish asked her.
"Well I started just walking off if she's waiting," Rose told them. "I feel sorry for him. He keeps saying if she carries on, we'll give her something to complain about for real."
"Seriously?" Trish almost spluttered on her cup of coffee. "Didn't think he'd go that far."
"Hey, why not do it?" Jo nudged her again. "Just think how much fun we could have, just the four of us and Hardy?"
Alec had called in to get a sandwich and a drink and saw the four of them laughing. He hoped it was about Tess but as he was paying for the items, Tess spotted him.
"Not sitting with her then?" she nodded towards Rose, who had her back to them.
"Leave it Tess, I'm warning you," Alec replied, wanting to get back to his office but thinking why not stay just to annoy Tess.
Tess just huffed and went to rejoin her friends.
"Where have you been Tess?" one of them asked her.
"Never mind," Tess replied to try and not let on where she'd been.
Rose saw Alec get up again, the others not noticing.
"I'm off to the ladies room," she told the others.
"We'll be along," Kate replied as the others were checking their phones.
Tess saw Alec leaving, then Rose followed a few minutes later, thinking it was no coincidence.
"Ses you all later," Tess told her friends, meaning to find out what Alec and Rose were up to.
Rose caught up with Alec as he waited for the lift.
"Not staying with your friends?" he asked her.
"I don't have the need to check my phone like the others," Rose laughed as the lift bell rang and someone was just getting out.
The door closed just before Tess got to it, cursing to herself for not being faster or had Tyler closed the door on purpose? She wouldn't put it past her. She'd heard Rose getting praised by Alec for finishing off the case she'd been given, the two DCs had gone out earlier and returned to applause as everyone had heard two petty thieves had been booked and were to appear in court at a later date.
Rose had blushed the colour of her name but her friend had taken it all in her stride.
"You and your friend seem to make a good team," Alec broke the silence when they were in the lift.
"Yeah? Thanks. Those two clowns were idiots, it wasn't that hard to actually catch them," Rose insisted.
"Indeed," Alec agreed. "I thought you would be able to handle it, with a little help. See, you are already making a name for yourself," he smiled as they arrived at their floor.
"I think I saw Tess, just as the lift door was closing," Rose admitted as they got out.
"So you hurried to close it?" Alec raised his eyebrows.
"No!" Rose laughed as Alec opened the other door. "I wish I'd thought of that."
"I just bet you do," Alec replied as she stopped. "Don't let me stop you."
"Sorry but she asks for it, really she does," Rose told him as they carried on walking.
"I agree with you, she has changed a lot, for the worse," he admitted.
"Sorry," Rose tried to be serious.
"No matter. We had best move, she will be following us no doubt."
"Hasn't she got anything better to do?" Rose wondered.
"No, apparently," Alec replied.
"Well, I'm off to the ladies room, she'd better not decide to follow me, I'm just in the mood for her," Rose admitted.
"She will no doubt go to the office to see if we are sat talking," Alec told her.
"I never meant to get caught up in all this, honestly," Rose replied. "I'd best go."
They went their separate ways, both wondering why Rose had been somehow got caught up in it all, Tess being seemingly hell-bent on getting proof the two of them were having an affair.
