DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS...ITV'S PROPERTY

Chapter 4

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Ross turned when he sat on the wall. The village looked all misty and unreal some how.

"You're not there really"

Donna smiled at him and sat beside him, "But you wish I was"

"I do...what are you doing to me, eh? Look at me, I'm talking to myself, aren't I?"

Donna looked at him as he faced her, Ross's dark eyes always softened for her, only for her.

"You are probably dreaming...you dream alot...make funny noises in your sleep, did I ever say"

Ross smirked at her, "What? Like when they say when a dog's akip, awwww he's dreaming he's burying a bone"

Donna turned like she was aware of something else.

"Donna?"

She turned, "No...just burying me..."

Ross opened his eyes and rubbed them. The room was still dark and he could hear that damned dripping tap. He sat up knowing he was in his bed sit.

He got himself a glass of water and saw that something at been pushed underneath the door. That wasn't there before he had gone to bed.

He stooped down and picked up the brown envelope. He went over and switched the lamp on. It looked cold because it was a naked bulb with no shade.

He sat and sniffed back, then opened the envelope and pulled out some A4 sized photos that looked like they had been printed off.

The farm...Pete...Debbie...Finn...HIM...the pub.

He remembered that damned text he had got...someone watching him.

He rubbed his beard and pondered on what to do. Was this Stephen Banks? Was he really after revenge after him and Donna ripped him off? But that was so long ago now...more than a year at least.

He laid back on the bed. His eyes wide open...he couldn't sleep now. Not even the comfort of dreaming about Donna could force Stephen Banks and his cronies of crooks wanting revenge.

That was gonna keep him awake for sure.

XXX

The next day, Ross went into town and saw Carly hanging around the café she always did after spending her boyfriends credit card.

He sniffed and, with his hands deep into his hoodie pockets, he approached her. Carly looked up as she ended a call on her phone, she pouted looking at him up and down.

"Ohhhh...just passing was you"

Ross clicked his tongue avoiding eye contact, "I need to know what you meant? I need to know if Stephen Banks is really out for revenge"

Carly sighed and stood up with her laden of designer shopping bags, "I think we should go back to yours, don't you?"

XXX

At the bed sit, Ross turned as Carly dropped the shopping bags and made herself at home by looking for the teabags, "So...you want ME to tell YOU what I know, do you?"

Ross shook his head.

Carly closed the cupboard and approached him, "I am only usually good as a quick romp up the alley...WHY should I tell you anything"

Ross sniffed back and faced her, "Because you like me and I'm pretty SURE that you wouldn't want this gorgeous face of mine to get all mashed up"

Carly tilted her head and swished her blond hair back, "Convince me...if you want something...I want something..."

Ross looked up and closed his eyes, then he focused on Carly, he walked up to her and held her by the cheeks and kissed her on the lips.

Carly was hungrily trying to undo the belt on his jeans, he stopped her, and pulled away.

"Tell me..."

"Not yet"

Ross shoved her to the bed and pointed at himself, "You really think I want to do a little scrubber like you...JUST TELL ME!"

"Or what?", she fired back.

He lunged forward and grabbed her by the throat, "Listen you stupid bitch, I KNOW that something is going on and if any harm comes to any of my family then you're for it"

Carly managed to shake him off. Ross the thug. He was known for it.

She rubbed her neck, "What...what are you on about?"

Ross threw her the envelope and she pulled out the contents and leafed through the photos in between her long nails.

"Who took these...?" she asked looking up at him questioningly.

"YOU TELL ME!"

"Ross, I haven't a clue!"

Ross slumped to the bed and put his head into his hands resigning to the fact that she didn't know. Carly placed the photos on the side and turned, "Ross...what you and this copper did..."

"HER NAME WAS DONNA!" he spat.

"...ok, Donna...YOU BOTH went round there to that club and ripped Banks off...you should have known that he wouldn't have let you get away with it"

"WHY NOW!"

"Because he's been inside and I hate to think of the why...but he's out now and I think he wants revenge...that's all I know...all what I told you the other night Ross"

Ross sighed.

"And also...they are getting a bit itchy about what happened to Gary North...they blame your Donna for his death...but she's dead...so I'd expect you are second best"

Ross looked at her. Carly could feel the coldness in his eyes...the knowing stare looked at her when she mentioned Gary North.

"Oh wouldn't they like to know...", he muttered icily.

Ross sent a shiver down her spine, that hand of his had been right around throat, god knows what he was capable of.

"I'm going"

Ross stood up but didn't approach her, "Please...find out what you can yeah?"

Carly was gone.

Ross sat back down, head in his hands again. Donna was beside him in her nightdress, she rubbed his upper back and smiled.

"Awwwww You poor thing...trying to clear up the mess I put you in, are we..."

"It's not your fault"

"It is...and I'm sorry"

Ross looked at her, the pain evident on his face, "please don't do this...it's killing me you being here"

"Please be careful"

"Donna I..."

But Donna wasn't there...it was just cold empty space next to him. It was the wishing for her to be here that did it...playing tricks on him...making him see and imagine what he wanted to see.

His phone then jingled to life.

He reached over and saw that it was Finn calling, he put the phone to is ear, "Finn?...you what? Don't you move I'll be right there mate..."

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I have been unwell lately, hope this hasn't show too much in the chapter, because I am constantly reaching for the tissues. I think I caught a cold after doing the ice bucket challenge :(

Feedback always gratefully received though!