On the run

Chapter 14

That got Alec worried. He had hoped Pete had got rid of all the images of that night, after he became involved with Torchwood but Yvonne had dug it up from somewhere. Still, he looked totally different now, tucked away in the back of beyond as Jackie would have put it so kindly. He'd made a wise choice to have a makeover and now it had paid off but it was still disturbing to discover images had been found.

He wondered if Pete would bring Rose down on Wednesday night or even sooner, in view of what had been discovered. How was he going to react when he saw her though? He'd have to keep in character at least outside to people who knew him so maybe from now on he should act like his girlfriend was coming to join him and make sure he got his story straight as to how he'd persuaded her to give it another go.

Pete was right though, it wasn't far from the truth, of sorts. Rose had been like his girlfriend, it was just the two of them had never admitted it and had they stayed together, Jackie would have knocked some sense into the pair of them. He couldn't seem that keen though, not at first, Rose had to come to him, to accept him and to trust him.

Rose had gone off to join Steve for lunch, who had got there first and was by the window high up in Torchwood tower.

"I thought you'd changed your mind?" he greeted her as he half got up.

"I had a meeting then something to discuss with Pete."

"Your going away?" Steve asked her.

"Partly, it was confidential."

"I get it Rose, you can't talk about it. You got my email?"

"Yeah, I got it. Has Yvonne contacted you?"

"No, not so far. I think I might have outlived my usefulness."

"Aw, your career as a spy comes to an end?" Rose smiled, looking at the menu and the day's special.

"To be honest Rose, I'm glad to be out of it, I never wanted it that way. All I wanted was to find out what happened to my father."

"I wanted to find out what happened that night as well but I didn't go to Yvonne," Rose snapped at him.

"I'm sorry Rose, really I am. I thought we were going to be friends?"

"I'll have to think about it, something else has come up, because of you, spying for her."

"Can't we just forget it? Yvonne's powerful Rose, she would have found things out without my help, trust me."

"Maybe she would but it would have taken her longer."

"Isn't it better to get it over with? Are you eating or not?" Steve asked as Rose put the menu back.

She got up. "I think I'll just have a drink and a sandwich, I'm not that hungry. I'm gonna take it back to my office, I have work to do."

Steve knew she was upset and he'd caused most of it. He got up and followed her.

"Let me walk you back?"

"No, I'm fine, I just need some time to think about all this."

"Then I'll maybe see you tomorrow? You missed your break this morning, were you working?"

"No, I told you, I had things to do. Why all the questions?" Rose asked, taking a sandwich from the chilled cabinet and a bottle of orange juice.

"I'm just concerned, that's all. You'll feel better when you've had your break."

"Maybe, I'll just have to see, won't I?"

Rose swiped her employee card and Steve watched her walk off. He knew he liked her and now he'd totally screwed it up because he'd gone to Yvonne's side instead of sticking with Pete. She'd never give him a chance now, she was out of his reach and thanks to Mickey, he'd delayed going after her when she'd gone to the Christmas party with him. She'd looked even more appealing in her green cotton dress and her black ankle boots, her hair loose for a change and he wished he had the courage to go after her and tell her how he really felt about her.