Detective Constable Jenny Lord - Life gets complicated in Broadchurch

Chapter 7 - We Soldier On

Jenny found Alec going the wrong way in the lobby, She swallowed the lump of fear in her throat and forced an even tone when she said. "Sir, you are turned around, let's get you home right away."

Alec blinked, his brow pinched in a rare moment of confusion. "Sorry, I need to tell Morgan that I, uh, I'm going home. He should, uh – transfer calls to Miller. I have such a headache."

She looked at the Sergeant, who nodded, "I'm sure he will take care of everything. Now, we need to get you home and take care of that banged up head."

The second the car door closed he leaned his head back and closed his eyes, He was quiet, too quiet on the ride. She could tell he wasn't asleep, his head didn't loll, his breath came in tight pain filled gasps. She turned a corner and he groaned then started fumbling in his pockets.

This time she made no effort to hide her worry when she said, "Alec?"

He pulled out a piece of paper and passed it to her. "You better take this and follow the instructions, not sure I can. Sorry, didn't mean to get hurt and make you my nurse. My head is throbbing."

"Oh Alec, I rather like the idea of playing your nurse, I just wish the hospital had kept you overnight, We'll be home in a minute. Maybe getting something in your stomach will help." She forced a teasing note to her tone. "Then I will put you to bed."

"Not sure I can eat, my stomach is queasy? Bed sounds good," A tired smile tugged his mouth upward. "Would you hold and cuddle me?"

"Of course I will, As for food, maybe just some tea and dry toast?"

He nodded and closed his eyes again. A moment later she turned on the long narrow drive up the hill to the house and stopped as close as possible. When he didn't move, she said, "we're home," Her heart pounded in her ears when he heaved his long lanky frame out of the car and lurched two steps forward. Stupid hospital, stupid, stupid hospital, she thought as she slid an arm around his waist and guided him inside. "Maybe I should take you back to the hospital," she said as she helped him to rid himself of his tie and shirt. "Alec, just sit there on the couch while I get you a fresh t-shirt then I'll make tea."

"Alec, you need to wake up," she commanded when she found him asleep. "The instructions say you need to be awake for another hour, then I need to wake you up every two hours after that. Please, sweetheart, wake up and have your tea and toast."

"I'm really tired, Jen, I don't want anything," he said petulantly.

"Please, just for me?"

He cracked a pain filled eye open and glared."Alright just for you," he said as he pushed himself upright, "Can we skip the tea and you just read to me? I love hearing your voice."

An hour later, after fighting to keep him he awake, she cursed the doctor and set her alarm for two hours and eased him into bed. He turned into her the second he felt her weight in the bed. She wrapped an arm around him then cuddled him.

*******

Ellie turned to everyone in the squad room after Jenny's and Alec departure. "Listen up, we soldier on and find these scum bastards. I don't care if we have to work all night but I want every square inch of that brush and forest searched. Jim, make sure all the officers have torches and lights, I want nothing missed because of darkness."

She moved to Jim's chair and gingerly picked up Hardy's jacket and frowned. "Ed, check the maps of that area for any back trails, they may have used. Delia, have an extra set of roadblocks set up five kilometers back from our original ones, just in case they get past those. Will, get on the horn to the fire brigade and see if they will help us and do a check of the residential areas in the vicinity of the cabin."