{ @iitspenance​ }

Arriving at Alec’s house to find nobody there wasn’t incredibly surprising. 

Arriving at the station to find he wasn’t there was odd.

Finding out, from Ellie, that he was in the hospital once again, was enough to shatter Dewey’s heart on the spot.

“He’s stable, though, no worries, there, didn’t T–”

“Where?” Dewey had managed out, and, as Ellie stepped forward to pull him into a hug, he pulled back. “Tell me what fucking hospital he’s at, Miller, come on!”

She told him the name, and, before she could get another breath in, Dewey was turning back to his car and speeding down the winding roads of Broadchurch before making it to the hospital in what must’ve been record time.

They wouldn’t let him in, not at first “visiting hours are over” and, “only close family now” and whatever bullshit they wanted to throw his way (a couple threats of a lawsuit and insistence that he most definitely was close family seemed to get them to change their tune fairly quickly, though)

When he made it to Alec’s room, he took in the scene carefully: Alec, asleep in bed, oxygen tubes going up his nose, with Daisy, sitting in a chair in the corner, working on what Dewey could only assume to be homework.

“Dewey?” She smiled, though confused as she crossed the room over to him. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

“…Huh?” He mumbled, pulling her into a tight hug, eyes not leaving Alec’s sleeping form. “What in bloody hell gave you that idea? I didn’t even–I’ve been blowing up your phones all day, I was so worried. Why didn’t somebody call? I would’ve been here sooner if–”

“Mum…didn’t call you?” Daisy mumbled, frowning. “She told everyone she would handle it, said you didn’t want to come because dad was stable so it wasn’t anything to worry about.”

Dewey froze, shaking his head. “I’ve not gotten a single call all day. I–when did this happen?”

“…Yesterday? Around eight, I guess. She was dropping me off and they started fighting about something and…” Daisy trailed off, “Well, he…”

There was a soft sob, and Dewey was pulling her back into a hug, rubbing her back slowly. “Hey, now, hey–it’s alright. He’s a real pain in the arse, y’know. He’s not gonna let anything take him down. Not even his own bloody heart, huh?”

She let out a half chuckle, wiping at her eyes as she nodded, and Dewey walked with her back to where she was sitting, as he dug into his pocket, and pulled out his wallet, handing her what cash he had.

“You want something to nibble? Saw a pretty banger vending machine in the hall, you know. They had miiiiini oreeeoooosss.”

Daisy nodded, and stood, taking the money from his hand, and walking out into the hall, just barely sliding past her mother as she walked through the doorway.

“Oh. Dewey.” Tess hummed. “Didn’t know you’d be joining us. Daisy had mentioned you were going to London for the month.”

“Hm. Did she?” Dewey tilted his head. “I suppose she didn’t know to tell you about the little tidbit that I’d be coming back on weekends, then.”

“Guess she did…”

“Probably because I hadn’t told her, since she wasn’t here when I left. You know what she did mention, though?”

“Oh, what’s that?” 

“Funny thing, she said. Kids. Wild imaginations, and all. She said–” Dewey stood, clapping his hands together as he laughed. “Well, she told me, that you told everyone that you called me, and that I wasn’t interested in coming back. Which is such a strange thing to say–considering I had every intention on coming back tonight either way, and had I known that my fiancé had a heart attack, I certainly would’ve driven home yesterday, because unlike this ridiculous version of me you have concocted in your head, I actually genuinely love Alec, and I want–”

“Dewey, I–”

“No, no, shut up, shut up. Please.” Dewey begged. “You have been trying to sabotage my relationship with Alec for months now. Months! You’ve tried to keep Daisy as some sort of hostage to dangle above Alec’s head, you literally falsely accused me of a crime and had me arrested for it–something I very well could have you fired over, by the way, but I haven’t pressed charges yet because unlike you, I understand that you play a part in Alec’s and Daisy’s lives and I respect your place there, even if you don’t respect mine–not to mention this!”

He gestures vaguely around the hospital room.

“What kind of person sees someone they once loved have a heart attack in front of them, and their immediately response is to use it as some sort of–what? What even is this, Tess? You think Alec’s gonna wake up and see you tending to him and want to leave me for you? Why? So you can reject him again? You’ve already broken his heart, Tess–you’re literally the reason he’s in this bed right now! You two don’t work together, you have tried time and time again and finally, finally, he has found happiness with someone else and you’re trying to ruin that!”

Dewey paused, running his hands over his face.

“But you’re not doing that. You’re not ruining us. All you’re doing here, now, is ruining what relationship you have left with Alec, and with Daisy, too. You are being, quite frankly, a crazy jealous bitch and showing your absolute ugliest side to these people who are meant to be your family. You don’t have to like me, Tess, I don’t really care if you do, but you have to respect the fact that Alec and I love each other. That I’m fully intending on spending the rest of my life with him. Because whatever roadblocks you try to put in our way…we’re going to get around it. Because that’s what you do when you love someone, you find ways to make it work. You–” 

Dewey’s gaze shifted back toward Alec, who was now shifting in bed, attempting to sit up.

“Alec.” Dewey breathed, rushing over to his side, and grabbing his hand. “Hey, whoa, take it easy. Okay? Hi. I’m so sorry I’m late I didn’t–” He huffed. “I’m sorry. How are you feeling?” 

       it was all so surreal. really. as if he was awake but underwater. drowning in that damn water all over again. he could feel it, suffocating like a weight on his chest. or maybe it was because of his heart. damn. damn. he was doing so well. 

       but then came the feeling in his hands. his fingers wiggling a little until he could plant himself more firmly in reality. he could hear dewey -- dewey? guess he would be here. and tess? or he was yelling about tess -- maybe it was miller? whatever it was he was upset. 

       upset enough that as alec regained consciousness his first instinct was to push himself off the bed. arms weak, and nearly collapsing under his own weight, but holding strong. dewey’s hand found his own as soon as he really could focus on his face. his bleary eyes then turning to tess, his heart sinking in his chest. of course.

❝ … you didn’t tell him? ❞

       words left his lips, weak, but as sharp as glass. his eyes holding as steady as they could. of course, she didn’t. why would she. daisy probably had to -- or -- well -- his head spun with the possibilities and he had to shut his eyes tight against the thought. 

❝ please, love -- ❞

       alec frowned, tess’ head had perked up at that name. of course it did.