Very strong T almost an M

Broken?

Mared pushed her foot to the accelerator as Tom sat in the passenger seat next to her. She had to admit she felt safer having him with her. She knew she was being ridiculous. Tom Mathias was by his very nature dangerous. He didn't mean to be but she knew that trouble seemed to follow him. She sighed heavily as she felt him look at her.

"How's Elin?"

"Ok." She frowned. They barely spoke about their families. She knew he had two children; that Meg had taken Hannah away to live in Canada following the accident that had killed Sara. Her heart broke for him every time she thought of him suffering the loss he had.

"She was terrified when you were missing. She's a smashing kid."

"She is." Mared smiled. Her teenage daughter was headstrong, bossy and singleminded. A levels and uni were the current focus of her attention. She had no idea where she wanted to go to university but she knew she wanted to study, to leave Aberystwyth. Meanwhile Mared secretly hoped she picked the local college.

"She reminded me of you. Not just in looks."

"She's a clever girl. Brighter than me. She won't make the same mistakes." Mared frowned slightly. "You spoke to her?"

"What mistake?"

"Trusting the wrong men. Her father being the first mistake." She frowned. "I told you this."

"No, you changed the subject. Don't tell me if you don't want to."

Mared sighed. "I was fourteen when I met him. He was older, had a car and liked me. I was pregnant at fifteen. A mum at sixteen and of course he freaked out; Wanted me to get rid. I told him in no uncertain terms that was not happening. And sixteen years later she's all grown up. My baby girl."

"I told her you were strong, that we'd find you." He looked at her as her hands started shaking on the wheel. He covered her hand immediately. "Mared, it's ok. Pull over. It's ok." She did as she was told before killing the engine. She was hyperventilating, shaking and white as a ghost. Tom recognised a panic attack and was relieved he had talked her into parking the car. A moment later he was running around the car to open the driver door, taking her hand in his.

"Breathe."

"I." She shook violently.

"You're safe. Mared? You're safe." He whispered as he watched her face. He knew the words weren't getting through. "I'm here, it's ok. You're not alone. Breathe."

Flashback

She was terrified and angry. The punch to her stomach sending her reeling. She wanted to scream but the air had been knocked out of her lungs. Tears sprung to her eyes as she felt his weight press down on her.

"Filthy copper." She pushed against him. His muscle mass a dead weight against her. "Dirty little filthy bitch." His hand came crashing down, punching her in the face.

"Don't." She felt the taste of blood on her lip as he sneered at her. His breathe stinking of cigarettes and stale alcohol mixed with body odour. It made her want to gag. Only she couldn't. His hand was gripping her throat as the world around her began to blur. She narrowed her eyes as his other hand slipped up under her jumper.

"No." She mouthed as a sudden strength she didn't know she had surged through her. Her knee came up, catching his groin, causing intense pain and him to lesson his grip allowing oxygen to be dragged into her lungs. Mared scrambled to her feet, only to feel strong arms around her stopping her moving before being thrown into the concrete wall. Her head connected with brick before her world turned back.

"Tom." She mumbled. Her eyes falling closed as the blessed darkness took her. The next thing she knows SiÀn is calling her name as Lloyd and another officer drag the man who hurt her away.

"Ma'am."

"Huh?"

"Siàn, get the paramedics." She hears the gruff tones she had come to love. "Get them to come here, I'll stay with her. Go!" Siàn scrambled out the room as Tom brushed her hair from her face.

"Mared. Open your eyes. Look at me."

She takes a shuddering breath. Doesn't he know everything hurts. Two nights and three days she's been in Hell and now he wants her to look at him?

"Fy cariad." He whispered. Holding her gently he pulls the collar of her shirt apart. Her eyes fly open, wide and terrified.

"NO!"

"It's me." He takes his hand away as she looks at him. Unable to focus for a moment she appears terrified. "I'm not gonna hurt you. Mared, it's Tom. Your Tom. You're safe now." She focuses properly. Her mind as tortured as her body.

"Tom?" She whispered before letting him hold her, both sat awkwardly on the concrete floor where he found her. "My Tom."

"Always." He kissed her hair as she dissolved into sobs, the floodgates opening as the damn finally broke.

Now.

"Ssh mae'n iawn. Mae'n iawn." He held her hands until she stopped shaking. "Mared." He brushed her hair away from her face as she finally began to focus.

"Sorry."

"Don't apologise." Tom smiled slightly. "You've nothing to apologise for."

"Maybe you should drive?" She whispered as Tom smiled slightly. He could see she was badly shaken and he hoped and prayed Evans rotted in Hell for what he had done to her and the murders of three other women. He'd gladly send the scum to Hell himself.

"If you want." He watched as she nodded. "How long have you had the flashbacks?"

"Is that what they are? I dunno. Since it happened. I'm fine."

"Don't even try that lie with me Mared Rhys. You know you're not." He stepped back so she could get out of the car. "But you will be. You'll be fine."

"Yeah? How'd you know?"

"Because I know you." He rested his hands on her shoulders. "We go to the morgue, talk to Iowerth and Prof Davies then we get something to eat. Ok."

"Ok." She nodded

"And Mared?" He watched her walk to the passenger side of the car.

"What?"

"I'm sorry. I was too slow. Too worked up in seeing Meg again. I let you down." She gave him a pointed look. He ran a hand over his stubble.

"You didn't. You weren't. I wasn't to blame and neither were you. It was him. Evans. No one else. Ok?" Her expression softened. "Ok?"

"It's not just you getting the nightmares."

"I know." She paused. Her attention caught by his eyes. "I know."

Xxxxxxx

A/N please review.