Sam quickly ran into the bathroom, not wanting to face Stuart in the morning, she lifted her top to see the many bruises that covered her body, how could she let someone treat her like this? He had changed her so much; she was too scared to fight back. He first started by telling her that she wasn't aloud out with her colleagues anymore, her friendship with Phil Hunter had become strained, she missed talking to him. When Stuart caught her trying to phone him was when he first hit her, though he apologised the abuse had continued, mainly emotional, telling her she was to lose weight, she had become so thin, but she was doing it for Stuart, she loved him, and believed that he loved her. She covered up most of the bruises, trying to hide her pain.

Phil was sat in CID, he wanted to catch Sam before work, but recently she had been late and also accompanied by Stuart, He glanced up and saw the two of them, as usual walk into the office together, he watched them talking, Sam hanging onto every single word Stuart said, She used to be so brave, so strong he thought to himself what's changed? But of course, he knew what had changed, and he wasn't the only one to have noticed. Their colleagues were worried about her too. He knew Stuart was the only different thing in her life, the only thing that could have made her so weak. Well not the only thing he thought to himself, it's not as if she told him anything any more. Another reason to hate him, she'd stopped coming out for drinks after a few months with Stuart. She stopped confiding in him and telling him her problems about Abi. He missed that, and he missed telling her his problems too. He knew Stuart had to be the cause of that, but he couldn't do anything about it. He'd promised Sam he wouldn't do anything to break them up and he would never intentionally hurt her by breaking it. He loved her too much.

Stuart looked up and caught Phil looking at the two of them, he holds onto Sams arm, controlling her, Phil looks at Sam, feeling sorry for her, she looked so weak, he wanted to let her know how much he still cared about her… she looks at Phil, and quickly breaks their contact, not wanting Stuart to notice. But he does, and pulls Sam outside CID, gripping her arm harder, In a few seconds, Phil was out of the door and by her side

"Are you alright Sam?" he asked

"She's fine" Stuart answered

"I didn't ask you" Phil glared at him, he then focuses on the many bruises of Sams arm, she catches him looking at them

Maybe he does still care she thought

''I'm fine'' Sam lies ''I just hurt my armthe other day''

'' How did you hurt it?'' Phil knows she's lying, he just wanted her to talk to him but as long as she was with him there was no way Stuart was going to hurt her

''She bumped into something' Stuart hisses and pulls Sam along with him

Oh did she?" Phil asked, raising his eyebrows as he glared at Stuart, blocking his path. "Why don't you back off and leave her alone?"

Stuart returned the glare leaving Sam feeling helpless between them.
"You back off Hunter." Stuart hissed. Sam couldn't take it anymore and seizing her opportunityshe ran to the toilets.

"You happy now?" Phil asked Stuart.

''Shut it Hunter! Or you'll regret it'' Stuart spat

'' You can't scare me, you might think you can scare Sam but she's strong!'' Phil shouted as Stuart walked off

"Why would I want to scare Sam?" he said with an evil smirk

Phil returned Stuart's evil smirk with one of his own.

"And because that's the only way you can guarantee that she'll never leave you." Stuart's face had darkened with anger but Phil didn't back down.

"She won't leave me, she loves me " Stuart sneered, "something you can't accept, you want her and can't have her" with that Stuart stalked off and left Phil raging with anger