Disclaimer not mine and thankyou for all the kind reviews.

Protection?

Gillian stared at the abandoned cell phone. There had been no other texts but the number had been one she didn't recognise. For a moment she wondered why Emily hadn't entered it her phone or how someone she didn't know had got her step daughter's number.

"Oh Emily." She whispered before glancing at the clock and wishing Cal was home soon.

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Eli drove in silence. Cal had barely said a word since they had left the univeristy campus. He knew better than to try to get his boss to talk when he clearly didn't want to. The Freeway was quiet which meant they had an easier drive home. He shook his head sadly thinking they should have been home much earlier than they were going to be. He didn't like the thought of Emily being so scared she had left the university or the fact that Gillian was alone with the two girls. He knew he was being irrational, he had no idea why they had missed so much work or why. A glance at Cal told him there was no point in asking, his boss was just as eager to get home as he was.

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Gillian walked through the house, checking everything was locked. She knew she was being paranoid but the fact whoever had attacked Emily now knew she was at home and what her phone number was terrifed her. She knew there was no way she was going to wake the teenager. Emily had barely slept since the weekend, there was no way Gillian was going to disturb her now. Walking into Laura's room she closed the door quietly before checking the windows and the baby monitor. Laura rolled over and grabbed her teddy bear while Gillian watched. The baby girl clearly had no idea her mother was in the room and slept on peacefully.

"Sleep well, Angel." Gillian muttered before brushing the baby's hair away from her face and slipping out the room. She leaned against the wall, grabbed Emily's cell phone from her pocket. Reading the message again she shuddered, forcing herself not to cry. There was no way she was going to let anyone touch either of her daughters. She wiped angrily at her face as the lock in the front door clicked. Freezing for a second she tried to think whether she had set the deadbolt. Hearing the familiar footfall and the sound of someone swearing under his breath made her smile.

"Cal" She breathed as she almost ran down the stairs.

"Let me in." He grumbled, aware that the extra security he had insisted Eli and Ben helped install after Gillian had been attacked while babysitting Ava meant he wouldn't be able to get in his own house unless either Emily or Gillian answered the door. He couldn't help the nerves building in his stomach now that he couldn't get in the house.

"Sorry." Gillian fumbled with the lock. She could picture the look on Cal's face on the other side of the door. Cal closed his eyes, trying to fight the urge to break down the door to get to her.

"Gill?"

"It's ok." She met his eyes briefly as the door opened. Cal stepped toward her and kissed her cheek.

"How can it be ok when you are shaking?" He held her to him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Gill?" He kissed her hair, more frightened than he had been when he had been trying to get in his own house.

"Did you get my message? I left you a message asking you to call me."

"Nah, sorry. I havn't checked my phone." He whispered into her hair. "You ok? What happened?"

"Emily spoke to me. She told me what happened."

"Right." Cal closed his eyes.

"And then, then." Gill buried her face in Cal's shirt, unable to take much more. She was terrified for Emily and knew Cal was going to go crazy.

"Where is she?"

"In bed. So's Laura. And she is actually sleeping so I suggest we let her rest."

"Good idea." Cal kissed her hair a second time before releasing her. "What is it?"

"She was so scared. I've never seen anyone so scared. She thought it would change the way we look at her."

"Well, that's just daft." Cal frowned, he had always found it impossible to read Gill. She was his blind spot in so many ways. Shaking his head he watched as she drew in a deep breath.

"She was dead on her feet. Anyway, ten minutes after she finally went to sleep this happened." She handed him the cell phone.

"She seen it?"

"No."

He read the text message again before almost throwing the phone onto the sofa. He didn't know whether to be scared or watched him pace the room, knowing that there was no way she was going to be able to calm him down. Not when Emily was still in danger.

"Make sure everything is locked up. I'll ring Ben. This is over. I'll make damn sure it is." He watched as Gillian covered her face, exhausted and terrified. "C'm 'ere." He pulled her back into his arms. "No one is going to touch any of my girls again. I promise." Gillian closed her eyes as he held her, feeling more nervous as she had been since the text message had arrived. She knew Laura and Emily were going to be safe. She knew Cal was determined to keep them safe but she just had a feeling the cost was going to be higher than either of them knew.

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A/N more soon.