Alec might have his doubts about her sincerity in their new relationship but he wouldn't see her like this. Rose took some toast and some jam, leaving the cooked breakfast on the plate.

"I meant eat properly. Is this some kind of protest? Just because that was all I asked for that morning doesn't mean you have to do the same."

"I'm not hungry Alec. How can I eat?"

"I told you, we'll talk about it when we get back. Right now, we have enough to worry about. I heard what you said to Pete."

"I thought you were in the bathroom."

"I was, I was just coming out. I changed my life for you, I cut my hair, trimmed my beard, hell, I was going to get the operation just for you."

"You shouldn't do that just for me Alec, you can't keep putting it off forever."

"Yes I can, why would anyone care?"

"Stop being so pig-headed Alec, do something for yourself for a change. Why do you have to do something to please anyone else?"

"I am pleasing myself, I choose to wait. I told you, I want to go under my terms and I won't let some idiot who thinks I'm someone else let me change my mind."

"You don't have to go at all Alec, you'll get well again."

"Will I? Can you guarantee that?"

"Pete can get you the best surgeon. If you don't waste any more time, you have every chance. If you leave it, the chances will be less favourable."

"It won't make that much difference. I put it off to solve the Latimer case, that's done now and I survived, I'll last a bit longer without it."

Rose knew she wasn't going to win this one the mood he was now in. He was just like the day they had met, not even a week ago – mean and moody and yet she had fallen in love with him in two days. Alec looked at her, how could he think she could possible fall in love with him? The drive back to Broadchurch was difficult. Rose had insisted on driving because he was too wound up and they were supposed to drive into the pub car park where Jake and Mickey would be waiting.

The two men were sitting on the wall across from the pub, watching who went into the street. They could see both ends of the street, watching for any single occupied cars or anyone lurking around. Pete had told Jake what had happened and expected that Rose and Alec wouldn't exactly be in the best of moods when they got back, even if they were still talking, which he doubted.

Pete had known instantly Alec was not ok with what he had been told and was surprised since he'd taken the whole Rose being from another universe quite well but seeing as he now thought he knew why Rose had fallen for him, it was understandable. Rose had sounded happy the last few days, the way they had talked and the way Alec so easily answered her phone that morning. He was just hoping the man would see past it all and see what a good thing he had with her.

All the way back, things were churning through Alec's mind. What had he been thinking letting a young woman into his life? He got the part she needed protecting, she had done nothing wrong that warranted being locked up, it wasn't as though she wasn't human and he wanted whoever was threatening her to be caught. He was going to ask her to stay with him but now what? Live out his life with her seeing him as another man or could he get past it? He really didn't know at this point.

As Rose drove into Broadchurch, she headed for the pub car park and saw Jake and Mickey sat over on the wall, drinking coffee by the look of it. Mickey was admiring some motorbikes that had been parked up and Jake was playing with his phone. Rose had called him to say they had set off and what car she was in. He had said he knew, he had organised it. Mickey put a big grin on his face as she pulled into the car park, until he saw her passenger.

Jake walked over and stood by the passenger door then shook hands with Alec as he got out.

"Nice to finally meet you Alec, I hope you've been taking good care of Rosie." Jake had decided not to bring up the fact they may have already fallen out.

"Good to meet you too Jake though you probably only recognised me because you've met my apparent double."

"No, I saw you on the news about that boy here. Listen Alec, you need to know I'm on your side, we're here to look after you. You've been looking after her, now it's our turn. Don't let the fact you look like someone get in the way."

"I don't know what you've heard Jake, things have changed."

Jake decided now was not the time but if one thing was certain, he wasn't leaving until these two had snogged the life out each other and made up – in front of him. Alec got back in the car and Rose drove around the corner and they got out, acting just like a couple who had been on holiday and having an argument. It had been Pete's idea for them to be having a go at each other, then Alec would storm off and Jake and Mickey would follow him.

Two other Torchwood agents had just arrived and were waiting with a van to take whoever emerged back to London. All they had to do was hope that person was watching and would take the bait. Having an argument was not going to be a problem for them as Rose started it when she got out of the car. Jake could see them from where he was sitting and was chuckling to himself that they would be shagging their brains out by the end of the day. He would have had a bet with Mickey but she was his ex-girlfriend and didn't think it was a good idea. Mickey was at the other end of the street in their car.

The plan was Alec would walk in Jake's direction, Jake would follow him when he got ahead. Alec would walk past the caravan park, around past the Police station turn in at the side of the café next to it where it was secluded. Jake had already taken a walk around there earlier while waiting for them to arrive. Hopefully, he would be following two people, it was too busy by the harbour for anyone to attempt anything but Alec wouldn't be in any danger. Mickey was going to drive around at a distance and park on the Esplanade and out of the two other agent left, Chrissy was going to stay with Rose as soon as anyone watching had left.

Whoever was after Alec, Jake was hoping he would recognize them because it had to be someone from Torchwood who knew about the Doctor. He just hoped Pete and Alec had got this right and it was about him and not Rose after all but they had everything covered.

Alec had slammed the car door in a temper so Rose had done the same.

"Did you have to drive all the bloody way back Claire? I could have walked faster, Geez, why did I marry such a slow driver?"

"Huh? You criticise my driving when you'd get done for speeding even when you're a copper? And why did you marry me Alec? Just to shag the life out of me?"

"I never heard any complaints from you when we spent the first day in bed."

"Only 'cos you wouldn't let me out, I didn't want to hurt your feelings."

Alec was getting the case and the holdall out, slamming the back door shut.

"It's a rental car Alec, don't damage it."

"Why not, you can bloody afford it."

"So you married me for my money?"

"Really Claire, is this what it's all about? Right, you can take the bloody case in, I'm off for a walk after spending twice as long in the car as I need have done if I'd been driving."

"Fine, take you bloody time Alec."

"I will, don't you worry Sweetcheeks, don't wait up."

Alec threw the holdall on the ground and threw the car keys at her. Rose caught them. If they thought they had put on a good performance for Ellie on Sunday, this topped it. Rose thought he was over-acting a bit but maybe this was how he really felt and he wasn't acting. Maybe he was going to leave. Not now, obviously but he would come back, pack his stuff and leave and she didn't want that.

She wanted to go over and hug him and make up but she knew she couldn't, not until this was over. At the other end of the street, Mickey was watching and it was heartbreaking for him. It had been bad enough seeing her with the Doctor's double but to see them arguing was worse. Rose was standing there, shielding her eyes from the sun despite her sunglasses, even though summer was over. She watched him put his jacket on from the back of the car and he turned around and walked off.

Chrissy had seen from the end of the street and wanted to go comfort her friend but she couldn't. Jake watched Alec walk towards him then noticed someone had come out from behind the pub and get into a car. Jake speed-dialled Mickey and told him. He thought it was a co-incidence that Alec had just gone storming off. Mickey drove past Rose, Chrissy got out of the van and went towards Rose, who had locked the car and picked up the holdall and put it on the case.

She wasn't going to hang around, Chrissy was going to pretend to just knock on the door and let poor Rose struggle up the path and up to the door. Rose had tears in her eyes and she wasn't pretending. Alec was walking past the caravan park, having crossed over the bridge. His mind wasn't with it, he didn't care if Jake or anyone else was following or not. He had argued with her and it hurt, maybe as much as finding out she had been in love with his double on another world.

Jake had the car in sight just up ahead, it had passed Alec as he crossed the road that led up into town and expected the driver would stop and try and get Alec over on some pretence, probably ironically outside the Police station. He hoped Alec would know better than to fall for it. The driver would probably pretend to be lost or tell Alec that Rose had been captured or hurt but Alec knew she was safe, two more agents were watching her.

Chrissy had knocked on Rose's door and had been greeted by her tearful friend.

"Oh Rose, that looked so convincing, are you ok?" Chrissy asked Rose.

"No, I'm not. I think he meant it," Rose replied tearfully.

"Oh it will be ok, Jake told me what Mr Tyler said, it will blow over."

"I hope so, I love him."

Mickey had been driving slowly, he could see Alec, then Jake and the car Jake had described had gone around the corner. If the driver was trapped on the esplanade, there would be no way out for them. Sure enough, the car stopped on a yellow line opposite the Police station as Alec drew level with it, the driver opened the window and called out.

"Hey, you're Alec Hardy. If you want to see your wife again, get in the car."

Alec knew Jake was just a few yards down the road. All he had to do was wait. The man had just made a very big mistake. Alec pretended to be looking to cross the road. He knew the man would have to turn the car around, there was no other way out. Alec could see Jake crossing over and hoped if the man drove off, Mickey would be waiting around the corner but as Alec crossed behind the car, the man was opening the passenger door despite someone else walking up, which was Jake.

Jake sped up, grabbed Alec by his shoulders and spun him around and got into the car, Mickey drove up and Alec got in his car and they drove around the next corner to turn around and Mickey got out and Alec got in the driver's seat.

"Go straight back to Rose Alec, don't stop. Whoever that was has no use for Jake. What did he say?"

"That I had to get in if I wanted to see Rose again."

"Huh, don't worry about that, she's with Chrissy. They're probably talking about you right now mate. Right, I'm off to join Jake, hopefully that bloke will have got a parking fine by now. Remember, go right back home and kiss that girl because she's crazy about you."

"Yeah, she's crazy about a bloke in another universe that I happen to look like."

"Don't do this to her Alec. That's not fair, that bloke never told her he loved her and she was devastated. Don't do the same or I'll have plenty to say about it."

Mickey got out of the car and saw a Police officer looking at the two men in the car. Mickey waved to the officer.

"Sorry Officer, they were waiting for me," Mickey called to him, crossing over the road and getting in the back.

The officer went back up the steps as Alec came slowly around the corner and saw Mickey getting into the car. All he had to do was go back and face Rose. He drove off and parked in the pub car park since Mickey and Jake were staying there and walked the few yards but stopped at the entrance to the path. He knew Rose may be watching out of the window so he put on a brave face and walked up to the door, getting his key out. He didn't expect her to fling herself at him and throw her arms around his neck.

"Alec, I was so worried. Are you ok?"

He was so surprised, he actually found himself kissing her back when she pulled his head down and pressed her lips against his. He was only just aware that a woman in black fatigues was sitting on the wicker chair by the window.

"Don't mind me, you must be Alec. You were right about one this Rose, he's hot."

"You said I was hot?" he asked, trying to prise her arms from around his neck as she hung onto him.

Rose blushed. "I might have said words to that effect though Chrissy might be over exaggerating."

"Am not, you said he was such a hottie in bed and that you…"

"Chrissy, stop right there!"

Chrissy just smiled. Her phone rang and she answered with a "Be right there."

"Have to go kiddies, be good and make up. Alec, it's been nice to meet you, look after each other." Then as she got up, she gave Rose a hug then whispered as she passed Alec, "She loves you so don't be an idiot."

Jake had got who he identified as Nathan Price, who turned out to the brother-in-law of one Angela Price, the woman who had been part of The Preachers and he didn't want the Doctor to take him to the other universe, he wanted revenge for the Doctor getting his sister-in-law killed. He had done some research and it had led him to the two of them. At first he had been content to have Rose locked up but he had seen Alec on the news during the Latimer case and he had finally got enough evidence to go down there and confront him but wanted both of them now and it had been pure luck that Rose had ended up in the town. He was going to use Alec to get to Rose then go after the other members of The Preachers. He went for Rose first because of who she was.

Mickey and Jake had got back to Chrissy and Brian who were going to take him back to Torchwood and just wipe his memories of what had happened to who Jake, Mickey and Rose had known as Mrs Moore. Jake couldn't understand how the man even knew what the Doctor looked like but he had been desperate and had worked his way into Torchwood as a consultant.

After Chrissy left, Rose heaved the case upstairs and was sorting out the dirty laundry they had stowed in the holdall to keep it separate and putting it into the hamper in the bathroom, Alec was pacing the living room. She was surely packing her belongings up there and would likely leave after she sorted her clothes and packed. He made his mind up to confront her. He walked upstairs and observed her from the bedroom doorway of the bedroom he had comforted her in the second night and joined her the third. Then he thought back to their Sunday afternoon, fooling Miller.

"Are you packing Rose?"

"Should I be?"

"Then I will."

"Don't be daft Alec, where would you go?

Just then Rose's mobile rang, it was Jake.

"Can I come round or are you two having a lovers tiff?"

"Bring some coffee and a tea for Alec, we've no milk."

"Yes boss."

Then to Alec she said, "Jake's coming round, probably to tell us what's happened."

"You're safe now, you can go home."

"Yeah, I miss my mum and my brother. Oh, you need this back." She took the ring off and handed it to him.

He looked at it and put it in his jacket pocket. "Your stepfather paid for it, you could keep it or sell it or whatever."

"No girl sells her wedding ring Alec. I could keep it, to remind me of the man who helped save me."

"I could have got you caught. Why did you never tell me Rose?"

"I couldn't. That part of my life was over. I told you he never said he loved me."

"Because he knew you wouldn't stay with him. You said he wasn't human, was he?"

"No Alec, he wasn't"

There was a knock on the door and Alec went downstairs.

"Come on Alec, I've got my hands full here," came Jake's voice.

Jake and Mickey were both standing there, a cup in each hand. Jake handed a carton tea to Alec. "That's yours. Where's Rosie?"

They let themselves in, Jake flopping on the sofa and Mickey in the chair.

"She'd better not be packing because of some silly squabble you two had."

"It wasn't a squabble Jake. She never told me, that's totally unfair."

"Listen here Alec, I've known her a long time, Mickey's known her even longer. If she didn't tell you it's because there was no need for you to know. All the time I've known her, she's never talked about him, never said she misses him or tried to get back. Tell him Mickey."

"It's true Alec. She was broken that day she came here but she got over it. There was one tiny gap left between worlds and he used it, to send a projection and he said goodbye to her. She said it was the worse day of her life but she went back home, knowing he was still out there and that made her feel better. Ask her who she would rather be with. Someone who's in another universe or someone who's in front of her."

"But all she sees is him."

Mickey laughed. "Have you heard yourself Alec? So what? I had a twin when I came here, he got killed by the Cybermen in front of my eyes. My old gran was still alive here and I took his place and until the day she died she thought I was him and I never told her. She died while I was at her bedside and I even let her call me Ricky and did that bother me? No. Because that was what she wanted, who was I to take that away from her? I lost her in my world, I had another chance. So you look like the Doctor, big deal. Get over it Alec."

Jake looked at Alec. "He's right. Here, take her coffee upstairs before it goes cold. We'll wait but don't make too much noise. Tell her you love her."

Alec took the cup and drank from his own. "Are you going to tell me what this has all been about?"

"When you two have made up and not before so get upstairs."

Alec went upstairs and Rose was sat on the bed, her arms hugging her knees. She was crying.

"Here, Jake got you this. Everyone's been giving me some friendly advice."

"Yeah? What might that be? To stop being stupid and go get your operation?"

"No, to stop being stupid and tell you I still love you."

He took the ring out of his pocket. "So is this it Rose? Are you going back with them?"

"The house is still paid for, you can stay here."

"Not without you, not after we spent that afternoon on the sofa."

Rose let out a smile and drank her coffee. Alec sat on the edge of the bed and put his carton down. He put his hand on hers.

"I'd only stay if you did or I might go and rent that blue cottage and get a boat to it every night."

She smiled again. "Come on Rose, that was meant to be funny, it deserves more than a smile. They might let me swap."

"You wouldn't even go in a boat Alec, you're too sacred."

"I wouldn't be if you were in it with me and I wouldn't be scared of having the pacemaker fitted if you were with me either."

"You wanted to go on your own terms, remember?"

"These are my terms. I'll have the pacemaker fitted if you stay."

"That's blackmail Alec, emotional blackmail."

"Of course it is kitten. I'm sorry."

"So am I, for not telling you. I don't think you're him Alec, I know you're not. I was saying he wasn't human. He was a Timelord, a time traveller and I travelled with him. When I first met him, he didn't even look like you, he could change his appearance and by now, he's probably changed again.

"I think you'd better take this slowly Rose, it's going to take some getting used to. Before you tell me, Jake has to tell us what happened."

"Right so are we good then?"

"I suppose so. Who else is going to put up with me?"

"Ellie Miller?"

"Please, don't make me any worse. We have some explaining to do to her."

"She'll wait. Sweetcheeks? Really?"

"It's no worse than you with the 'Fuzzy' bit."

"Yeah but Sweetcheeks? You call me that again and you really will be getting a divorce and we're not really married."

"Ok, got it. Now are you really going to pack?"

"Only to go back home to see my family and get you into a top London hospital for your operation, in a private wing. I'm not having you going on the waiting list."

"Ok, you spoilt little rich girl, maybe I will be marrying you for your money after all. You did accuse me of it."

"That was for show Alec. Hang on, who said anything about getting married? You have to win me back first."

"I have to win you back?"

"Yep, you have to start flirting with me again."

"Stuff that Rose, why don't we pick up where we left off this morning?"

All Jake and Mickey heard was Rose screaming Alec's name, Jake with a grin on his face wishing he had made that bet, he would have won.

The End!