***IMPORTANT: Previous warnings still stand for this chapter.***
**Authors note: There's a small hint of Michelle/Peter in this chapter, and possibly from here onwards, so if any readers have a problem with this paring they should discontinue reading. Thank you.**
"Shh, it's okay" Ryan consoled. "Don't worry, we'll get through it. Everything's going to be alright."
Michelle clung onto his shirt tightly and continued to sob. Ryan felt helpless; he didn't know what to do. What could he do anyway? Apart from wait for her to calm down. Ryan kept rocking her and talking to her gently, stroking her hair. He wanted to hurt the people who'd done this to her so badly. He wanted them to suffer they way she was.
Michelle had stopped crying, Ryan sat back a little but she didn't move an inch away from him. He looked down and saw her eyes were closed, having tired herself out. Ryan let her sleep against him like a little baby.
Michelle awoke with a jolt at the sound of someone knocking on the door. Ryan gently moved her aside.
"Don't worry, you don't have to see anyone if you don't want" He told her, presuming it was the Police. However, when Ryan answered the door, he found that it wasn't the police at all.
"Hey, I know you probably all want to be left alone right now" It was Peter again, this time he was carrying flowers. "I was just wondering how she was"
"Do you know what's actually happened?" Ryan asked.
"The whole street knows, apparently the men they're looking for have fled so they've been around asking people to stay alert, there's even a poster up."
Ryan groaned, this wasn't what his mum needed right now.
"They had to warn everyone of what they were capable of, some of us have small children" Peter said fairly.
"I know, it's just, she's really not...Coping too well" Ryan sighed.
"Is she not seeing anyone yet?" He asked. Ryan told him to hang on, there was a chance she might see him. He went into the room where Michelle was curled up.
"Mum...It's Peter again, he wants to see you he's worried."
Michelle looked to the floor and didn't answer. She knew people would want to see her and that she would have to face them sooner or later. It was only her friends wanting to see her, they were worried after all.
"Okay" She answered, finally.
Ryan went back to the door and told an anxious looking Peter.
"She says its okay, but she's still a bit...scared"
Ryan lead Peter into the living room. He told his mm that he was in his room and if she needed anything she should shout him, Then he disappeared upstairs.
Peter looked at her. Ryan was right, she did look weary and slightly fearful. He sat don next to her.
"Hey" He said softly.
"H-Hi" She mumbled, eyes cast to the floor.
"It's okay. I'm not going to do anything" he said, setting the flowers down on the small coffee table.
"You don't have to talk" He told her, reaching out and taking her hand. Michelle was glad he's said that. She didn't feel like she could talk, she didn't want to start crying after she'd only just stopped. So they didn't talk, they just sat next to each other lost in their own thought. Every so often Peter would stroke the back of her hand with his thumb, reminding her he was still here for her.