Alec Hardy and the fairground girl

Chapter 4

When Alec woke up, he had various wires attached to him and Ellie Miller was standing over him, throwing a bunch of grapes at him.

"Not again Miller?"

"You moron, sending me a text when you knew I was in court. What if you'd died?"

"Well I didn't but those grapes are not seedless. I'm alive Miller. I need you to take me back to Broadchurch."

"Are you completely mad? I'm not taking you."

"I'll take him Ellie." Tess was standing in the doorway.

"He's supposed to stay in, they told me, another 24 hrs."

"Bloody doctors, I just want to go home, take me back to Broadchurch Tess," he asked his ex wife.

Tess went to get his medication while he got dressed. He couldn't tell her
he only wanted to go back to see Rose, the woman he had thought about as
soon as he had woken up and the last thought he'd had before going under. If Tess stayed though, he would have some explaining to do but if
all the lights were out, Rose wouldn't come to call for him.

Tess was amused when she parked in the pub car park just after six, crossing over the bridge and going through the gate.

"You live here? Seriously Alec?"

Alec opened the door and Tess took his holdall inside. Alec sat on the decking and Tess got some water.

"Here, take two of these now and two before you go to bed. I'll stay tonight."

"Why did you come to the hospital? You made it clear you didn't want me back again."

"There were a lot of things unsaid Alec. You took the blame for me and you never threw it back at me. I know you did it for Daisy and I never thanked you. We're even now."

Alec took the painkillers and hoped she would go soon but he was in no fit state to tangle with Rose Tyler again. Last night had been more than nice.

"I'm fine now, you can get off if you want."

"No chance Alec, they said you need someone with you at least overnight, that was the only reason they let you out, I vouched for you."

"Thanks but I'm fine, really, there's no need for you to stay."

"Got a hot date or something Alec?"

"Me? In my current state, don't be daft Tess."

Tess raised her eyebrows. She wouldn't put it past him if that barrister had been right about him and Miller but she didn't seem his type, well since she had two kids. It was more likely to be a young blonde half his age.