He couldn't drive back with Paul and Colin. He just wanted to be alone and clear his head. Luckily his mum was out. He got a shower and switched on the TV as soon as possible. It hadn't been reported on the news yet. He couldn't eat, he could barely sleep, everytime he closed his eyes the sight of horror closed it's grip around his mind. He just wanted wash his brain with bleach.

"You're over-thinking too much again" He'd woken him. Shit. "Daddy, I'll go down to the lobby" Clay calmed himself down and took the laptop out with it's adaptor. By twelve tonight he could actually call Jackson. He was up all night listening for reports, He'd typed everything he was going to say, so as soon as he pressed the "call" button he could read from the script. Jackson had just been through a traumatic experience. Clay was doing the right thing by providing a shoulder to cry on, and whatever Jackson wanted him to. The first time he'd seen a scene like that was after he'd left the home. Daddy put the lamp on stayed up all night with him. After that he'd gotten used to the gore. He'd felt a little sorry for the woman though, Daddy had really gone to town on her. "Precise cuts" He said at first, but he acted like this woman had pissed him off in the past. Maybe she reminded him of an ex. It's a shame Jackson had to witness so much blood, but that's what happens when a girl nearly gets her throat sliced from one corner to the other.

Clay walked from the lobby to the empty cafe opposite. he got his phone out but was interrputed by a waitress. "Hello Sir, Can I...?" "In one minute" He answered putting his index finger up straight. The girl went back to cleaning tables, giving him glances. He knew he'd have to disappear soon. He called Jackson's mobile, praying that he'd answer, even though he wasn't what one would call a believer. He clicked on his script, waiting for a tired opening line. "Who's this" The voice said on the line. "Hi, it's me..." Clay said, going back to his script on his laptop. "Clay" Clay told him with baited breath. "Oh...yeah that Clay, Sorry it's just I've knocked over so many lads, it's hard to keep up" Jackson said leaning up and looking at his alarm. "Glad you remember" Clay said, telling himself not to sound too pleased. "It's just I heard what happened on the radio..." "Oh...it didn't give my number out though did it?" Jackson asked. Clay tapped his free hand on the mouse pad. This excuse better work. "I looked you up, there aren't many guys in construction with your name, or crappy fashion sense" "I'll let you have that one...look I'm good, I just need to sleep"

"You can't" Clay said, now deleting his script by the letter. "It's just... Jackson I've see that kind of thing before, and it sticks with you, you know" He could hear Jackson breathe heavily down the line. He hoped it was in agreement. "If you ever wanna vent...or...OK, I'm putting the phone down" Clay said looking up at the ceiling, but was shaken out of embarrassment by Jackson's words. "Look, I could meet you after work for a coffee or something, I mean... if you're free" "Yeah, sure" Clay said, gripping the phone so hard it nearly clicked shut. Jackson gave him the name of a place near to one of his sites that he'd worked at. Clay had already looked it up because the name had already appeared on Jack's bank statements. Jackson ended the call while Clay rushed upstairs to get some sleep. He'd have to wake up early to get some new clothes. All of his stuff had coffee stains or holes in them, it was so pathetic.

He woke up the next morning raiding his backpack and only came up with a fiver. He went back and sat on the bed only realising Daddy was up when he heard the toilet flush. "What you looking for?" He asked, rubbing shaving lotion onto a cut on his face. "Another five pounds" Clay said taking his dirty trousers off the chair and digging for change. "Not for fast food I hope" Daddy said puzzled by his son's urgency. "No...Daddy I've met someone" Clay announced as he turned around to look under his mattress for spare change. "Do I know her?" Daddy asked. Clay shook his head. "It's doesn't matter, I'll go like this" He said looking down at his creased up shirt and trousers that had spilt milk on them. "Like that? She'll run away screaming" Daddy said. "Look I'll get you something, do you want aftershave?" "No!...No thanks Daddy just something clean" Clay said as he watched his Daddy get ready and hoped that he wouldn't come back with something too small. He was going down the list of their next target while watching detective shows on TV. The police were interviewing their sixtieth suspect when Daddy opened the door.

Clay thanked him and went for the bag but Daddy told him to close his eyes and sit on the bed. Clay did as he was told. He heard a rustle of the bag and then Daddy told him to open them. He opened his eyes and wondered if Daddy was taking the piss. But as always he was serious. Daddy held up a pair of strippy green and blue pyjamas. Child size. He passed them to his son with a smile. "Have fun out" "Thanks Daddy" Clay said with all the cheer he could force. "When you going?" Daddy asked. "Later on" Clay said knowing that if he gave a time Daddy would stay. "I can wait till then" Daddy said taking his jacket off and going to the bathroom. Clay stayed on his laptop looking and pining for shirts and jeans on shop websites. It was so unfair. The second chance he'd got to impress Jackson and he was going to end up looking like peter pan with a shittier hair cut.

Of course Daddy waited until Clay was getting washed in the bathroom and put the pyjamas on the back of the bathroom door. Clay changed into them obediently and put his coat over the pyjama top. "Have a great date" Daddy said as Clay put the rucksack over his shoulder. "Thank's for the clothes" Clay said with a nod as he headed off quickly to bus station to meet Jackson. Taking the car would have been easier, but Daddy would never have let him taken it. He could handle the laughter of the teenagers, the wide eyes of the little old women and the delivery men looking him up and down. But what would Jackson think. The trousers looked like three-quarter length shorts. He got to the cafe hoping that not many people were there. He looked at his watch and thankfully he was early. He could feel the sweat making his pyjama shirt stick. As if it could feel any smaller. He opened the door to the cafe and sat at the nearest table by the door. He grabbed at the menu and wondered how long he could make Jackson stay here for, how long could he keep Jack interested? He scanned over drinks decided to get whatever Jackson wanted to order when he heard someone call him.

"Mate...Clay? Over here" He looked ahead to see Jackson smartly dressed waving a menu grinning, asking Clay to come over. To show himself.