Storyline continuity: Set after 'The Wrong Horse' (Episode 20). I wrote this after 'Unredeemed' (Episode 21) aired so I will refer to some parts from that episode. This won't yet include events from 'Bloodline' (Episode 23) as at the time of writing this chapter I hadn't seen that episode. So if there are any similarities, these are an honest coincidence.

Trigger Warning for mentions and descriptions of abuse/violence, mental health and self harm.

Italic font is used to represent flashbacks.

"Chloe are you ready?" Evan shouted up the stairs. "We're going to be late"

Chloe Godard was stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom. "I'm coming" she replied before quickly putting the various make up items back into her cosmetics bag. She took a second to double check that the forming bruise on her right cheekbone was well hidden and gently pressed it with her finger, she winced. The pain reminding her of the previous night's events.

Chloe's checked the caller ID of her phone. It was her Mum. Evan, who was sat next to her on the sofa, looked at her with a annoyed glare.

"Should I answer it?" She asked him.

"Do you think that's wise?" He said in a tone that Chloe understood to mean that she shouldn't answer it. She silenced the call.

"She means well" Chloe told him, feeling guilty for ignoring another call from her Mum.

"Yes, well, we both she doesn't have that affect does she"

The phone beeped indicating a text message had been received. She opened it and read it, with Evan looking at the screen over her shoulder, 'It's just me, can you please let me know you're ok? I'm starting to get worried. Love, Mum x'

"Just ignore her" he told her sternly.

"She's my mum. I can't ignore her forever" she objected.

"I'm just trying to look out for you" Evan spat, he stood up and snatched the phone from her hands.

"Evan give me my phone" Chloe was now stood up too.

"I don't understand why you feel the need to object to everything I say! I'm just trying to keep you safe!" He held her phone firmly. Chloe looked back at him, she tried hard to hide the fear that was rising within her.

"Evan please" she pleaded.

"No"

"Look, I'll turn it off, I'll ignore her. Just give me my phone back" she went to take the phone out of his hands.

"I said NO"

Before she knew it Chloe felt Evan's hand make forceful contact with her cheek. Her hand instinctively drew up to cover it, she stood there in pure shock, she wanted to run but fear made her freeze to the spot. As her hurt gaze met Evan's enraged one she couldn't deny that she was petrified of whatever was going to happen next. His hand grabbed ahold of her arm, he stepped closer to her.

"Evan please don't" she pleaded, her voice breaking. She wasn't sure what she was asking him not to do. He was very unpredictable when he was upset.

"Don't what?" He spat "Care? I'm only trying to look out for you and this is how you treat me!?" He was angry.

"I'm sorry" she looked away from him and tried to ignore the pain from his grip.

"Yes well you will be. Because if I get fed up of you then what? Who is going to be there for you then? Who is going to stop you from going completely crazy?"

She made sure not to look at him or move, she didn't want to do anything else to anger him. "I'm sorry" she cried,

"You should be! I'm going for a walk before I do something I really regret" He told her as he pushed her away, she fell back into the sofa. She held her breath until she heard the front door slam shut. It was only when she heard the familiar sound of the door locking that she released her breath, drew her knees up to her chest and cried.

"Chloe, come on" he shouted again to which she quickly headed downstairs. Evan was stood at the bottom of the stairs holding a long sleeved top in his hand. "You'll need this" he handed it to her. Without saying a word she nodded and took it, understanding what he was telling her to do. "I'm sorry about last night, but it only happened because I care and I don't want you to be hurt by her again"

"I know" Chloe nodded. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have ignored your advice"

"Are you ready?" He asked to which she nodded.

Chloe couldn't help but feel relieved that she had been asked to stay on Darwin today, she really didn't want to face Ange or Dom today, or Evan for that matter. Jac had given her 5 minutes to get changed before she was needed to join her in theatre, so she headed to the locker room to change into scrubs. She hung her jacket up and took the long sleeve top out of her bag before quickly swapping her jeans for the navy blue uniform and removing her jumper. It was at that moment when the door opened and in walked Carole Copeland. She quickly put the long sleeved top on and prayed that Carole hadn't seen her scars, the marks on her arm or a set of fading bruises from last week.

"Sorry, I didn't realise you were in here" Carole apologised, pretending that she hadn't noticed the scars or bruising. She was concerned, she had heard that Chloe had uncharacteristically taken a lot of time off over the past couple of weeks and knew that both Dom and Ange had concerns "I just came to put this box in here for Adrian"

"It's ok" Chloe told her, with a slight stutter. She could tell by the look on Carole's face that she had noticed and gave her a pleading look.

"What happened?" She asked her.

"It's nothing, I fell" Chloe lied, she quickly grabbed a navy top off the shelves, put it on and headed for the door. "Sorry, I've got to be in theatre" she told her before rushing off.

Carole frowned, she was no doctor but those bruises didn't look like anything you would get from a fall. And the scars worried her too. Chloe's demeanor reminded her a lot of what Dominic was like during his difficulties with Isaac, and she wasn't going to let Chloe suffer in silence if something similar was happening to her. Without a second thought she headed straight to Keller to find Ange and Dom.

"Ah, Sacha. Have you seen Ange and Dom?" She interrupted his conversation with the male locum. "Sorry, it's about Chloe so it's really important".

"Sorry Evan" Sacha apologised before turning his attention to Carol. "Ange went outside for a break and Dom is in theatre"

"Wait what about Chloe?" Evan stopped her.

Carole frowned. "I'm sorry but who are you?"

"Evan Crowhurst, I'm actually Chloe's boyfriend" he held out his hand to her. "So whatever you're going to say to them you can say to me" She looked at his hand then at his face and for some strange reason found herself instantly was reminded of Isaac. He had that butter-wouldn't-melt look about him and an over exaggerated look of faked concern etched across his face. She told herself that wasn't going to fall for this again.

"I'm good thanks" Carole rejected his offer of a handshake and shot him a dirty look. "You said Ange was outside didn't you?" She checked with Sacha, who was looking at the scene before him with a lost expression. He nodded and Carole quickly left the ward with purpose.

A/N: So I have been playing around with this for a while. I'm planning for it to either be a two or three chapter fic but that could change as I go. Also, big thank you to Becky for helping me with the title. If it hadn't had been for your help I was going along with Holby's example of 'Pigeon' and was about to dig out my Nan's birdwatching encyclopedia 😀.

As always, any reviews or suggestions would be really appreciated. Love, Nat x