A/N: Like the title suggests, this will be five things that *never happened* to Wordy. If you've read the ones centered around Ed, then you'll have a pretty good idea what this is all about. Enjoy.

Five Things That Never Happened to Kevin Wordsworth

Domestic

The young woman still had a terrified look in her eyes, even though the threat had long passed.

Sam Braddock would be facing another SIU hearing when they got back to SRU Headquarters, but everyone on the team pretty much knew it was justified. After all, the man had been holding a gun to his wife's head, threatening to kill her. Nothing Sergeant Greg Parker said was getting through to him, and the man was escalating.

She's still in shock, SRU Constable Kevin 'Wordy' Wordsworth decided, as he looked at her pale figure. He could see she was actually shivering, even though she was wrapped securely in a blanket as she sat in the back of the ambulance.

"Melissa," he said gently, trying not to startle her.

Her head jerked up, and her eyes bulged even wider.

Wordy cringed inside. The poor girl was hyper-reflexive; over-reacting to anything and everything.

"Sorry," he in a hushed tone.

She swallowed hard, and took a gulp of air.

Discreetly, Wordy scrutinized her. Sallow complexion. Hollow cheeks. Ugly, black and blue bruise around her left eye. In spite of the summer heat, Melissa was wearing a long-sleeved, crew-neck sweater.

"Melissa," Wordy said again, deliberately forcing himself to whisper, "he's not going to hurt you anymore."

Melissa's face crumpled, and she dissolved into tears, shoulders shaking.

Feeling helpless, and not wanting to overstep the bounds of professionally acceptable behaviour, Wordy nevertheless reached out and wrapped a soothing arm around her. She cringed at first, then allowed him to stroke her back. Over and over he repeated that she was going to be okay; that she was safe.

Melissa's emotional meltdown eventually ran its course, and she sniffled a few times before Wordy released her.

"Thank you," she said, without meeting his gaze.

It was breaking Wordy's heart to see that she was still so trapped in a mindset of a subservient, second-class citizen. She couldn't even bring herself to look him in the eye.

Wordy was struck by a sudden memory of another girl, so similar to Melissa, that it was almost like being hit by lightning.

Oh God! Those neighbours Tania and I used to have all those years ago... what were their names?

I remember she was blonde, cute, but always reserved...and he was always a bit of a loud-mouth show-off...

Shelley and Hank – those were their names!

That abusive son of a bitch!

Fury seized Wordy, and he wondered what had become of that former neighbour, praying someone had been more observant than he.