"What?" I replied in a state of shock. My eyes were frozen to the one spot on the foot of my bed, where I had hung my handbag from last night on the knob on the footboard.

"Look Mattie, we're doing everything in our power to find him, but you're still in severe danger," Jack said loudly. "You and Ric."

"I don't understand what did I ever do to him?"

"You took away the chance for him to get revenge on Ric. You thought up of the plan. You went to Detective Baker. You…" I put my hand up to signal for Jack to stop. I couldn't listen to this anymore.

"Okay. I get it Jack. How did he ever manage to escape though?"

"Johnny Cooper is cunning. You've gotta give him that one. Probably a few of the guards helped. As well as some of the gang members on the outside. In fact, I'm quite surprised this is only coming now."

If looks could kill then Jack would have dropped dead there and then. With glares from both Tony and I. Johnny Cooper had escaped from prison. It was as simple and as complicated as that. And he was after two people that supposedly 'ruined his life'.

"I know this probably isn't the best time for you, Mattie. Believe me, none of us wanted this to happen but it has." Tony reassured in a hushed tone.

"Johnny left a letter in his cell, we thought we better show it to you and Ric now. This is just a photocopied version since we need the original for evidence." Jack handed me a letter, with scrawled handwriting scribbled all over it. I could just about make it out.

To everyone that reads this,

I was obviously successful in my plans if you are reading this letter. No offence or anything, but you know, prison wasn't for me. Anyway to the point… two people are going to pay for what they have done to me. Two people who are so "precious" to one another. Ric Dalby and Matilda Hunter. They roped my brother in and they made my life a living hell, just like I will make their own.

Johnny.

I stayed still and silent as I read the letter over and over again. Why me? I thought to myself. Was my life destined to be ruined?

"As you've probably guessed, you can't stay here now. It's way too obvious." Jack interrupted my thoughts. "We want to keep you in a safe house for a few days, just until things calm down a bit, until Johnny's caught again."

I scoffed at that last comment. "You really think you're going to be able to catch him again, Jack? Don't you remember how hard it was last time?" I asked softly.

"Well…" Jack started before I cut him off.

"Wait a minute. A safe house? That's what you said before right?" Jack nodded. "You want me to stay alone in a house that is isolated from everywhere else until you've caught him?" I yelled. I knew I shouldn't get angry with Jack, but this was hardly what I expected to come home to. My return had already become a disaster after last night with Ric.

"No, not completely alone. I'll be there keeping an eye on you. Also, Ric has to be hidden as well." I felt my eyes widen and all of the colour drain from my already-pale face. Ric? Ric?

-x-

The walk I had taken along the beach had relaxed my thoughts for a while. Of course, Jack and another two officers were just up the road watching me like hawks. I was carrying my shoes in my left hand and used the other one to wipe away the stray tears that began to fall. I breathed in the salty ocean air and wiggled my toes in the soft, golden sand. The beach was basically deserted, apart from a few children playing in the sea. Well that's what I thought until I felt myself collide with another body.

I looked up into Ric's eyes. He was also unnaturally pale. We spent a few moments just examining each other, until Ric held his arms out and I ran freely into them. I just needed to feel safe and that's what I felt in his grasp.

"Why us, Ric?" I cried. "He already tried to ruin our lives. Can't he just leave us alone?" I sobbed into his shirt.

"I know," he soothed while rubbing my back as my mum used to do when I was a child. "I felt the same when Tessa told me." At the sound of Tessa's name I froze, and I remembered how we had betrayed her trust. Ric could sense how tense I had become as he let me go and pushed me back so he could look directly into my eyes.

"Did you tell her?" I asked in a whisper.

"No, I couldn't Mattie. I don't love her, but I still care about her. There isn't any point in telling her now, you don't want to be with me." I couldn't believe he was saying this.

"Ric! She deserves to know!"

"I know, but we're going away in an hour. It's hardly going to be enough time to tell her is it?"

"No, but you promise to tell her as soon as we get back?" If we ever get back, I thought to myself.

"Of course."

Silence surrounded us again as we stared at anything but each other. Then I suddenly remembered what he said to me last night. I had sobered up and the night's memories were slowly beginning to flood back into my head.

"Did you mean it?" I asked. New sets of tears were now falling down my cheeks slowly.

"Mean what?" Ric asked, he was obviously confused.

"You… you... said you loved me."

"I meant it, Mattie. I never stopped, not for a second. You were, are my world and I don't think I will ever completely let you go."

-x-

The car was packed up, and Jack sat in the driver's seat, waiting for me to say my goodbyes. It was only a few days, and I knew that. McGrath had said that it could only be for a few days, even if Johnny was still on the loose by then, they needed it for some case that was not allowed to be discussed.

I hopped into the seat beside Jack and we drove off to the Van Park House to pick up Ric. I was going to be fine sleeping and living in the same room as him while we were there, I had to be.

-x-

When we arrived at Ric's house we were met with the sight of a passionate goodbye kiss between Tessa and Ric. I couldn't help but feel this strange feeling inside of me. I wasn't jealous was I?

Ric walked towards the car and I had to control myself again, although I'm sure that Jack had noticed my reaction. He opened the back door and sat down, giving me a shy smile that I returned.

-x-

A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys, I really appreciate them! I'll probabaly update tomorrow as I am going away on Monday morning. Please keep reviewing!