Something's Brewing

Chapter 10: A Pint To Make You Feel Better

Once Alec realized that Ellie wasn't in the station, he quickly found her outside on the steps. He could tell quickly by her posture that she was upset and crying. He approached, making just enough noise to alert her to his presence, allowing her enough time to compose her self a bit. He knew she didn't like crying in front of anyone, even him, with their relationship as it was progressing.

"Ed Burnett's gone. And Jim Atwood." He took a deep breath and looked at her a moment. This case had worn them both down, but especially her. How many rotten men did she have to be presented with as a reminder of her own husbands failings? "You okay?" It was a stupid question, and he knew it. But he just wanted her to know he cared.

Ellie replied tearfully, "No."

Well, at least she was being honest with him. There was a time in their relationship that she would have stubbornly hidden her feelings out of pride.

"We have him now. That footage will send him down," he said first, hoping the fact that they had nailed the guilty man would give her some relief. But he knew, even as he said it, that wasn't what she needed. Especially not from him. He hurt, for her, for his daughter, for the women who had been treated so badly by men like Leo Humphries. His voice broke as he spoke again, "He is not what men are. He's an aberration." He wanted badly to reach over to her, wrap his arm around her shoulder, to hug her, to comfort her. But they were sitting on the front stairs of the police station, out in the open.

She exhaled deeply, her face still contorted in painful emotions. "I hope so."

Alec looked around, hoping maybe for the once in a lifetime chance that the street would be deserted so that he could just touch her, just one simple touch to show her he was there. But even then, he knew anyone could be looking out the windows of CID, and she hadn't given him any clear indication she was ready for their relationship to be public. He sighed again, then stood quickly. "C'mon Miller," He jerked his head towards the direction of the car park. "Let's get out of here."

Ellie looked up, confused, and still emotional. "What?"

"I'm getting you away from here, and we're going to get your mind off this. C'mon." He jerked his head again and she finally got up.

"Good luck with that," she said as she grabbed her purse, dusting herself off as she followed after him. He said no more, just pulled the keys out of his pocket. "How exactly are you planning on doing that?"

-*-*-

An hour later, pizza boxes were laid out across the kitchen counter at the Miller house. In the living room sat Ellie Miller with Fred nestled up against her. Daisy Hardy and Tom Miller sat on the floor, and Alec had just gotten up from the couch to gather their empty plates. He gathered their plates and empty glasses as they continued with eyes glued to the television screen and the film the kids had selected.

He had made his way to the kitchen and placed the empty plates into the sink to be washed up later. He had pulled the cork back out of the wine bottle he'd opened for Ellie before dinner and poured them both a second glass. He was just pulling containers of ice cream out of the freezer when Ellie came in to check on him. He opened an individual pint, stuck a spoon in it and handed it to her. "For you."

She grinned. "You mean I don't have to share?" she asked, then proceeded to take her first bite.

"No, not tonight." He smiled as he began splitting up the second larger container into three bowls.

"Only three?" she questioned.

"I'm sharing with wee Fred. I'm adding an extra scoop to the bowl," he grinned.

She smiled, thinking fondly upon how this man loved her children. "This isn't what I expected when you said you were going to take my mind off of—work," she said before shoving another spoonful into her mouth.

His left eyebrow raised high and he glanced at her before returning his attention to his work. "Oh, and what were you expecting?"

Her cheeks flushed, despite the cold ice cream in her mouth. She swallowed it hard and then smiled meekly. "Oh, you know."

"Do I?" he questioned, his eyebrow still raised, a small smirk on his lips. "Yes, I suppose I do. However," he continued as he turned to her then, having finished his task. "It felt too far from the gentlemanly thing to do to assume any physical affection would be wanted after a case like we've had."

Ellie smiled at him warmly now, overcome by his thoughtfulness. "You certainly are that, aren't you?"

"What?" he questioned.

"A gentleman. Thank you—for tonight—for everything." She set down the pint of ice cream he had given her and moved closer. "But I give the gentlemen permission to hug, if he'd like."

"I'd very much like that, yes," he whispered as he pulled her into his arms and held her there, hoping to pour out all the comfort and care he had for her into that one hug.

*-*-*

-Meanwhile, in the living room-

Tom side-glanced at Daisy a few times as they watched the movie before finally gaining the guts to speak. "I'm sorry about what happened at school, Daisy," he mumbled.

She nodded and sighed. "Thanks."

"If you ever, you know, need someone to talk to. Or someone to, you know, stick up for you—" He shrugged, trying to get the words out, "You can find me. I know I'm younger, but—I know what it's like to be picked on and—I'd be happy to help, if you want."

She smiled. "Thanks, Tom."

Tom nodded, then continued, "I heard what your Dad said to those boys."

Daisy groaned and rolled her yes. "Oh God, you did?"

"Yeah—I'm sure it was embarrassing. My mum did something like that at the school when the kids were harassing me because of what my dad did." Tom shook his head dramatically. "I was mortified. But now that I think about it, it was kind of alright for her to do it. But don't tell her that."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. It felt good to see them so scared of him. But—don't tell him," Daisy agreed. At that moment they smiled at each other and a friendship and understanding began.

After a few more moments of watching the movie, Tom glanced towards the kitchen. "So, what do you think—of them, I mean? Together? It's sort of weird, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is really weird. But..." Daisy glanced back towards the kitchen as well. "I haven't seen my dad this happy in years. So, I guess it's not bad."

Tom nodded slowly. "Same here. So, yeah, not bad."

About that time, Alec and Ellie came walking back in, Alec carrying three bowls of ice cream, and Ellie carrying her pint of ice cream and their two glasses of wine.. He handed two to the teenagers who grinned at each other.

Tom grinned towards Daisy. "Not bad at all."

Alec ignored the teenagers, except to note happily that they seemed to be getting along well, which pleased him. If this relationship between he and Ellie was going to work, it was going to be at the consent of the two eldest of their children. He knew Fred wasn't much of a worry, as he seemed about as attached to Alec as a fish to water.

As he sat back down and handed Fred a spoon and showed him their bowl, he looked back at the movie. "So, explain to me, who is this Iron Man?"

"He's like you dad, a piece of metal in his chest that can't be removed or he'll die," Daisy explained with a chuckle.

Alec furrowed his brow, "I'm fairly certain this Tony Stark fella does not have a pacemaker. But I'll take the super hero comparison, thank you Daisy."