Chapter Thirteen (As always Italics = Flashbacks)

'P?'

'Mm?' Peyton's head bobs a little too vigorously.

'What're you thinking?' They're in Lucas' study and Brooke watches helplessly as her friend paces the space, her eyes skittering around the space like she's in some stranger's house, not her own home.

'I just...I dunno. I don't want there to be anything on here and yet I do at the same time...I know I'm not making sense'

'Yes, you are. I get it honey...whatever it is we'll deal with it though. Kay?' Peyton clasps her hands together. 'Come sit, you're making me dizzy'

'Sorry' She hesitantly joins Brooke at Lucas' desk. The brunette shifts over in the single chair to make room for her. She stops herself from thinking about how she's sat on her husband's lap here. How she'd proof read chapters of his book. She reaches for the framed picture of herself on her wedding day that's to the left of his laptop. It's his favourite. He took it himself. It's a candid snap. She's laughing and oblivious that her photo is being taken. 'He always says I look like an angel in this photo' She mutters. Blinks. 'Sorry, sappy I know'

'Real sappy' Brooke smiles sadly at her friends sombre expression. 'But completely true. You're beautiful honey' Peyton lays it face down on the desk top then and looks at her best friend with semi amusement. 'Don't give me that look! You are' Peyton rubs her belly then as the growing infant inside kicks her as if in agreement with Brooke's exasperated stare. 'See. She agrees with me. You are'

'Well I don't feel it' Her husband's presence is everywhere in this room, something she'd usually be happy of but not right now, not with what they're doing right now. It's making her feel all the more dirty. She doesn't confide her feelings in her best friend though. Knows she'll be met with an intense glare. Knows a lecture will follow. It's irrational. She knows that. She knows it's not logical but she feels it nonetheless. She doesn't feel like the girl in that photo frame. Doesn't feel worthy of her husband. Doesn't feel anything like herself.

'Peyt-'

'Can we just get on with this?' She cuts off what's sure to be nothing but kind words from her best friend. No amount of kind words can make her feel better right now.

Brooke nods, her stare lingering on her friend's rabbit in headlights expression for a moment. It's jarring. It takes her back to the day when she'd realised that Peyton's attacker was a little closer to home and she's tried her hardest not to rehash that day because going through it the once had been enough. 'Of course'

•••

Peyton's eyes are wide as she stands in the doorway. Her feet won't move despite her desire to snatch her daughter away from the man she's interacting with 'Sawyer'

Sawyer's head swivels in her direction 'Mummy' She smiles. 'Look-'

'Go and find Daddy ok?' She's managed to cross the threshold of the room.

'But-'

'Now' Peyton snaps. Her tone isn't one to be argued with. The nine year old startles, her eyes warily looking up at her Uncle for a brief moment.

'It's alright kiddo, I'll finish showing you later. Here you can look after it' He hands her back the coin putting an end to his magic trick.

She nods silently before slowly edging toward the exit.

Peyton waits. Ensures the child is safely gone. The silence is unbearable. 'Hey' He eventually hums.

Her skin crawls and she wants to run. Wants to hit him. Wants to scream all the words that are constantly stuck in the back of her throat. 'Why're you here?'

'Luke asked-'

'I don't want you here-'

'I told you I wouldn't say anything-'

'Keep away from my children'

'Peyton-'

'I mean it. Don't even look at them' She growls.

'You're being ridiculous. I know you're clearly upset about what happened between us-'

'Don't go near them or I swear-'

'You'll what?! You're being insane. You think the shit you've told him is going to solve this?!' She blinks. Of course her husband has confided in his brother despite her pleas for him to keep this matter private. She wonders if he knows about the pregnancy too. 'Why on earth would you tell him that? The best thing you can do is just act normally'

Peyton's eyes bug out. 'Act normally?! You. Raped. Me' She hisses.

He stares at her. She can't work out his eerie look. 'You're going to stoop that low? For real? I admit it was a mistake. I know we shouldn't have done it. Do I wish I could take it back? Sure. But don't make out I fucking...' He shakes his head.

She inhales sharply.

'You wanted it' He continues. 'And I get that you're feeling guilty, that you need a way to explain how fucking psycho you've been acting but-'

'Stop' She cuts off. 'What's wrong with you?'

'You're just scared your precious little marriage could crumble. I've already told you I'm going to keep my mouth shut so just stop! If what you're saying happened happened you'd have gone to the fucking police. You would've told Luke. You're not fucking stupid. But you haven't because that's not what happened is it?' He stalks toward her and her feet hastily begin to put space between them. 'You told him it was a stranger. Are you wanting a repeat performance. Is this what this is?'

'Stay there. Don't come near me' He grabs her arm and she freezes.

'Because all you have to do is ask'

Her whole body stiffens. Her heart races. She feels like she's been sucked back to that night. Her body not cooperating. 'Just. Stay. Away. From. Me. From my, my Children' She breathes.

'Peyton' Brooke's voice thrums through her and his hand is gone in all of an instant. 'What're you two doing in here? Everyone is waiting to sing Happy Birthday'

'We're coming' Nathan smiles warmly. 'I was just filling Peyton in on my week'

Brooke doesn't say anything because her best friend's appearance doesn't bode well with her.

'I'll go let them know we're coming' Nathan announces and Brooke's eyes narrow as he hastily disappears.

'...P?'

'I'm c-coming' Her eyes are shut tight.

'Honey' Peyton's lashes flutter open abruptly because Brooke's voice just sounded right in front of her. 'You're shaking'

'I just, I need a minute'

Brooke nods slowly. There's an uneasy feeling in the pit of her belly. She doesn't like the way her friend is cowering against the wall. 'What were you two talking about?'

'Nothing'

'It didn't look like nothing. I've never seen you look like that' It had been anger and fear wrapped into one.

'He's a fucking mess. I don't want Sawyer around that'

Brooke's brow furrows because she's heard her friend fight for the man in question to be given a chance on countless occasions 'What's he done now? You've always defended him'

'Well you get to a point when you can't do that anymore'

Brooke's hardened stare morphs into one of despair, an unpleasant coldness rippling down her spine. She grits her teeth together. There's been holes in her friend's story. Things she's not understood, that she daren't question because not for a second does she want the blonde to feel like she's not being believed but now, now she can't be silent. She instinctively knows in this moment that she's most definitely not been given the whole truth. The jigsaw pieces are falling into place. It hits her. '...god it was him' she eventually whispers. She can't help the tears that have gathered in her eyes. She's tried to be the stoic rock she knows her best friend needs since she found out about the attack but she wavers with this realisation. 'It was him wasn't it?-'

'What're you talking about?' Peyton expels and begins to shake her head.

'It wasn't a stranger. It was him-'

'Don't be ridiculous!-'

'Please stop lying to me.' Brooke pleads softly. '...Honey it's me. I only want to help you'

'Well stop making insane assumptions!'

'Insane? You two were-'

'Talking. We were just talking'

'No you weren't'

'What're you implying?!'

'That you're lying!' Brooke repeats.

'Want to accuse me of having an affair now too?' She irrationally blurts.

'That's not what I meant by you lying' Brooke slides closer, arms wrapping around her teary friend. 'You're lying about how it happened...I know you. Please talk to me' She hums. '...It was Nathan wasn't it?...Honey?' Her eyes pierce into the unresponsive blonde. '...I know what I just saw. I know you...It was Nathan wasn't it?' Peyton's lack of answer only affirms the brunette's assumption and despite Brooke's suspicions it still hits her like a ton of bricks. She abruptly turns away.

'What're you doing?' Peyton side steps around her best friend in a panic.

'I...' Brooke's hands disappear into her hair. 'He can't get away with this Peyton!'

'You promised-'

'He's in there!' She hisses. 'You've seen him since that night! He's in this fucking house!-'

'I know I-'

'I'm going to kill him-'

'Luke is just in there, please drop it' Terror is evident as she looks past her best friend to the doorway.

'You shouldn't fucking be here right now'

'It's Karen's Birthday'

'And a man that attacked you is under the same roof' Brooke hisses. 'Luke needs to know-'

'No. This will destroy him' She wildly shakes her head. 'He's already a mess! I don't know what he'll do. Remember that time when that guy wouldn't get off me at that bar? He went crazy'

'That was over ten years ago. He's learnt to control his temper'

Peyton nods slowly. 'A little but this...he won't keep his temper over this. He won't' She whispers.

'Of course you two are in here gossiping' Peyton jumps at her husband's sing song voice. He's trying his best to be upbeat today. Is wary that his sombre mood hasn't been helping her. But he can't ignore the way she just shuddered. Can't ignore the panic in her eyes. 'Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you' He anxiously exhales.

'You didn't' She forces a smile.

'Peyt?' He's closer now and isn't oblivious to her glassy eyes and flushed cheeks.

'I'm ok'

'She isn't feeling that great. I was about to take her home' Brooke intervenes because she can't do nothing and if she can't do what she so desperately wants to, if she can't out the man that's in the next room then she'll do the next best thing and get her friend as far away as possible.

'We can go' Lucas instinctively reaches for her, strokes up and down her arm.

'No, no. I told you, I don't want anyone knowing. Your Mum will know something's wrong if you come too. You know she's so witchy. She'll know-'

'She already knows something's wrong'

'Have you told her?'

'No, of course not'

'You've told Nathan'

He frowns because of course his brother couldn't keep his damn mouth shut. He sighs. '...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I just, I needed someone to talk to-'

'It's fine' She cuts off. Wishes she hadn't mentioned it because now she's visualising her husband seeking comfort from the man responsible for all this and that image makes her feel positively sick to her stomach. 'I just, I need more time before we tell everyone. Please stay here. It's your Mum's birthday'

'I'll look after her' Brooke promises.

Lucas frowns. He wants to look after her. He should be the one to take care of her right now.

'I'm fine honey' Peyton nods, draws him in for a chaste kiss. 'I just can't b-be here right now. Please don't hate me'

'Of course I don't hate you I just, I want, I can come with you-'

'I know, I know but, but that'll make me feel worse. Knowing I've ruined your Mum's birthday. Please stay. For me'

•••

Peyton blinks.

Brooke has successfully got the the laptop set up with the USB stick plugged in, the folder has revealed several video files. Each labelled as different rooms. The folder dated as the missing day of video footage.

'It's it' Peyton shakily murmurs.

Brooke averts her eyes to her friend and reaches for her hand.

'It's it isn't it?' It's a question this time.

'I think so honey' Brooke affirms. 'I'm guessing these correspond with the cameras fitted around the house'

'...Yeah' Peyton licks her lips. Nods once. Her mouth is suddenly horribly dry.

'Start with the lounge?'

'...yeah I think we were all in there for a good while'

Peyton's stomach knots as Brooke uses her free hand to drag the cursor over the file labelled "Living Room". Double clicks. The footage fills the screen. Despite being certain of what she was about to see the affirmation that it is indeed that day has a rush of nausea flooding over her. The room is empty.

'You remember what time you arrived?'

'Around 3 probably'

Brooke shifts the timeline at the bottom to match Peyton's suspected timing. Sure enough at 15.10 the room is filled with everyone. She's talking to Karen. Sawyer is standing on the arm of the sofa and is leaping onto Keith's back.

Brooke immediately reaches out and taps the trackpad to pause. 'Honey?'

'It, it's it' She states the obvious. She's back there. She's wearing that dress. Her hair is pulled back to the side. She wants to reach into the image and shake herself. Tell herself to get out now. Run.

'It's a good thing honey'

Peyton frowns. 'I've been trying to, to...he talked about it so much like it was consensual, I, I thought he really believed it. There, there's somehow something b-better about that'

'What?' Brooke's brow furrows.

'At least if he thought I wanted...then he wasn't trying to hurt me, he wasn't...but he, he, why's he got this?!'

Brooke grips her hands almost painfully. 'Honey all you need to understand is this day, nothing that happened on this day was your fault. You hear me?'

Peyton nods. '...if he was trying to hide this he'd just delete it. Why'd he keep it? Did he, did he like watch b-back? It's like some, some s-sick souvenir or s-something'

'I think it's more than apparent that he was a very sick individual. However you look at it' Brooke coos. 'You don't have to watch this P. I can do it'

Peyton swallows. '...I want to. I want to see that it happened how I think it happened'

•••

'You're always there for me'

'Of course Nate' Her brow furrows. She thought that was a given. 'You're family. Me and Luke will always be there for you whatever'

'Yeah but it, it's different. Even when I screw up you understand'

'I don't understand your choices' She corrects. 'But you're family. I know Luke looses his temper with you sometimes but you have to see it from his point of view. It's frustrating for him because he just wants you to be ok. To be happy'

'And what do you want?'

'The same. Of course I want the same'

His hand reaches out and rests on her knee then. 'You're so good to me'

Her eyes slowly skitter down to his fingers. An uneasy feeling forms in the pit of her belly. She wonders if she's being paranoid but with the way he's been with her over the last few months she can't help but think that this is just another advance. She gently shifts his hand off of her leg. 'Why don't I go make us a tea-'

'Do you ever think about how different things would've been if Dad hadn't made me take that scholarship?'

'Different?'

'I could have had Luke's life. You could have been my wife'

She makes a conscious effort not to snap at him. Swallows. 'No Nathan. I couldn't have. Luke and me were made for each other'

'Luke is all you've ever known'

'Uhuh and all I want to know. All I've ever wanted'

'You guys argue. I've heard you'

'Uhuh. Not often but sure. All couples argue. We work through it though because we love each other. You'll find someone too you know? Some people just have to wait longer than others'

He snorts 'You live in a bubble'

'Your life can change Nate. It can but you've gotta stay off this stuff for good. You were doing so well until tonight-'

'I pissed everyone off'

'You stole from Karen & Keith, you stole form people that are trying to help you. What did you expect? Them to never find out?' His hand is creeping back toward her and she quickly gets up, eager to escape his touch, eager to find something to help sober him up. 'I'm going to make us that tea'

•••

'You look uncomfortable. What did he say?' The footage doesn't have sound and Brooke's eyes sting from trying to read their lips as best she can but it's near impossible because she only has a decent view of Peyton's mouth.

'I just, I didn't like how he was looking at me and he said something like if he hadn't gone away to school I could've been his wife not Luke's. He'd been drinking and I just, I knew I needed to sober him up'

'So you went to the kitchen?'

'Yeah'

Brooke nods silently and drags her finger over the trackpad of the lap top, closing the current camera footage of the living room. Her head is pounding. They've been at this for more than forty minutes now. The initial excitement that had swelled in her chest in knowing that her god son's suspicions had been spot on is long gone. They've sifted through a days worth of footage. Meticulously watched from room to room. Watched the awkward dinner breakout into a fight. Watched her set Sawyer up with a film. Watched her disappear outside with Nathan to smoke briefly. Watched her return and take Sawyer upstairs to bed. Watched every little second with Peyton running a narrative from memory on what words transpired.

Brooke glances at her friend as she opens up the camera footage for the kitchen. 'You ok?' She moves the marker to the time that corresponds with where they'd just left off in the lounge.

'Yes'

'I know I've said this a hundred times at this point but you don't have to look at this' She knows this is it. What their investigation has been leading to.

'Yes I do because I've been driving myself crazy over this. I want to stop replaying it and wondering if I'm remembering it all wrong' She whispers. 'He, he made me feel like I, I led him on and everything Dan was saying to me today I-'

'You don't need to watch this to know that you didn't' Brooke shakes her head. 'I've just watched this whole day with you. You've done nothing to give him that impression. You just removed his hand from your bloody knee. Your body language is screaming no. Is screaming that you're uncomfortable'

'It is?'

'Yes' Brooke nods.

'But is, is that cause you know me? To a stranger would it appear differently-'

'You cannot read this any other way. I promise you P'

Peyton nods. Exhales heavily and then she's taking control of the lap top and playing the recording from the kitchen.

•••

'Dan's got so many fucking types of tea. Is he secretly British?-Nate' She looks down. Is startled by his hand on her hip. Thinks he's trying to reach something on the counter. Move her out the way. His other hand brushes her hair off of her shoulder and her stomach turns then. 'What're you doing?' She hastily steps away and tries to get some space between them.

'Helping you make tea'

She hears the smile in his voice and takes another step back for good measure 'Don't' She pushes her hand through her hair. 'I think it's best I go now-'

'Peyton-'

'I told you not to fucking touch me again. For god sake Nathan! Luke is trying to sort out your god damn mess and you think it's appropriate to hit on me?!'

'You can quit it now. I get it ok?'

'Excuse me?'

'Luke can't know. I agree. But I won't tell so you don't need to keep up the act'

'The act' She repeats. She's horror stricken. 'Nathan there is no act. I don't know what the hell you've decided is going on in that head of yours but you're wrong. Nothing is going on here. I'm not interested'

His face hardens then. 'Don't play games'

'I'm not playing games!' She exclaims. 'You're drunk. You need to go fucking sober up' She makes a beeline for the exit then but he halts her departure.

He ensnares her arm as she passes. 'Does Luke know what a flirt you are?'

'Let. Me. Go' She hisses.

'You like playing hard to get don't you?'

She tries to rip free from his hold, her struggle encouraging his other hand to help him keep her before him. 'Let. Me. Go' Her eyes are fierce.

'We're alone. He's not going to be back for a while' He pulls her closer and she becomes furious because she's made it more than apparent that she wants to be released. Nothing about her body language or words can imply that she wants his mouth on hers. She thrusts her leg forward and he grunts as her knee thrashes into his thigh. His grip on her lapses and she spins around. Doesn't get far. Panic swells in her chest as he snatches her from behind.

'Stop' She growls and propels forward. His hands clamp down on her hard. 'I mean it Nathan. It's not funny' She's waiting for his laugh. Waiting for him to declare he's mucking about. It doesn't come.

'I know you want me'

'What about me right now suggests that?!' She claws desperately at his hands. 'I don't want anything to do with you'

'You didn't tell Luke about our kiss'

'Because there wasn't a kiss! You kissed me, I hit you!' She bleats.

'You didn't tell him-'

'Because I love him! You're his brother and knowing you'd try that with me- he'd not talk to you again Nate-'

'On Brooke's Birthday you were all over me'

'No I wasn't!'

'You insisted I come-'

'I suggested you come! I didn't insist'

'You liked me touching you'

'No. No I didn't I was drunk and I thought you were Luke-'

'He never needs to know'

Her panic begins to spiral because this is all escalating. 'Stop'

'Shh' She swallows thickly as he jerks her back against him. She can feel his belt buckle digging into her. She forces herself to try and relax, to stop herself from struggling, to be still. 'I see the way you look at me'

'I look at you like my brother in law' She snaps in disbelief, disdain consuming her as his fingers brush the underside of her chest. 'Get off' She pushes at his groping hands.

'You flutter your eyelashes. You get me to dance with you. You try and get me alone with you at any given opportunity-'

'No-'

'You don't have to pretend anymore'

'I'm not pretending! You're reading into things that aren't there Nate. Because you've had a drink! I don't like you like that- '

'You're always there for me. You're always in my corner-'

'Because you're Luke's brother!' She's done being still. Still isn't getting her anywhere. She attempts to break free again but he walks her forward, trapping her between himself and the nearest work surface. Her fingers latch onto the edge of the counter top, she uses all her strength to try and push herself back and escape.

'It's more than that. You know it is'

'No Nathan. You need to listen to me!' She gasps because he's stronger and with a hand around her waist he's just lifted her back against the island. Her feet loose purchase on the floor. Her hands splay out in front of her to stop her head from hitting the marble counter top as he bends her over it. 'No. Stop' She continues to struggle, locks eyes on a pot of utensils and tries to desperately reach it and it's contents. He clocks what she's doing, grapples her wrist, pins it down. 'No!' It's a panicked shriek this time.

'Shhh Sawyer will hear' His words stun her. She freezes. Is reminded that her nine year old daughter is here and all her words die in that moment.

Panic renders her helpless. Panic that the child in question could come in at any minute. Could witness this god awful scene.

She cringes as his lips touch the back of her neck. A silent tear races down her cheek as his hand goes beneath her dress and she feels a rush of cold air as the fabric is hiked up.

She wills her body to move. Wills herself to keep fighting but shock has taken hold. Her words aren't working. Her words have never failed her before. He isn't listening. He's too strong.

She gasps when his knees shift her legs further apart, his fingers smoothing over her silk covered backside. She takes an exaggerated breath because she knows their end destination and nobody, not a single person has touched her there asides from Lucas Scott and that thought has her feeling sicker than ever. She squirms, tries to clamp her legs shut. 'Don't do this to Luke' She forces herself to say her husband's name. Wonders if it'll break through the lust that has him deaf to her pleas. 'He'll kill you. You know he'll kill...' She clenches her eyes shut then because his fingers have found the crotch of her panties and she realises. Realises this is happening.

His hand disappears after a moment. From both her underwear and back and for a second she thinks her words have made him come to his senses. Thinks it's over but he's not gone. She hears the tell tale sound of a belt being undone. Hears a zipper being pulled down.

Her mouth is too dry, the lump in her throat painful. His hand grapples back beneath her dress again and she gasps as he yanks her underwear down this time. And then she can feel him. He's there. There where she doesn't want him. Want anyone but her husband. Her mouth has stopped trying to summon words. She's resigned to her fate. But nothing can prepare her. Her fingers flex against the counter top as he pushes into her. A muffled noise passing her trembling lips at the intrusion.

She's meant to be making tea. She was making a cup of tea a minute ago. She doesn't understand. This isn't happening. It can'e be. It can't be real. It has to be a nightmare. But she's sure her brain couldn't cruelly summon up this feeling. How could it? She's not felt anything like this before. She tries to focus on the ticking clock on the wall, not his heavy breathing or the rhythmical sound of her legs bumping against the cupboard door. Her blurry gaze follows the lines in the marble. Imagines it's rock. Remembers being on holiday. Searching in rock pools with Ollie when he was just three. She quickly pushes that from her mind. She doesn't want to see her children or Lucas right now. Instead thinks of her mother and father. Wills them to keep her alive. Wills them to make sure he only takes this from her and not her life too because her children need her and at this point she has no clue what he's capable of. No clue whether he'll panic and attempt to silence her indefinitely. She wonders if she's going to wind up being on one of those crime tv programmes. Found dead, buried in a ditch just miles from her home. Wonders if he'll claim there was an intruder. Wonders how long it'll take before the investigators piece together the truth. Wonders if he'll be smart. If he'll cover his tracks or if he'll be carless and arrested within days.

He grunts in her ear then. It's over. The tight hold on her wrists leaves after a beat.

She grimaces as he leaves her body. She doesn't move. Stays splayed over the counter top. He's no longer holding her down. No heavy weight behind her and yet she can't seem to move. Is scared to even try.

She hears him shuffling. Here's fabric being rearranged. A zipper being pulled up.

His hand feathers over her cheek then.

She's staring blindly at the painting on the far wall. It had always been the only thing in this god awful house that she'd been slightly drawn to. She hates it now.

'Are you ok?'

His question sounds so far away. She doesn't understand. Doesn't respond. How can she possibly be ok? He rubs her back. 'It's ok. I won't tell him' She wants to scream. 'I'm not going to destroy your marriage. It's our secret. I promise...I'll go so I'm not here when he gets back'

He kisses her cheek. And then he retreats. She listens to his shoes sound against the tiled floor. Doesn't realise she's holding her breath until the front door clicks shut in the distance.

She gasps. Gasps like she's just come up from underwater. Her eyes are wide. Bloodshot.

The shock that has had her frozen starts to ebb. Starts to turn into panic, panic that he'll return. Panic that Lucas will come in at any given moment and find her like this. That thought has her daring to move. She hisses as she shifts back. Everything hurts. Her lower abdomen feels bruised where the edge of the counter top has been pressing into her.

She blinks. Silent tears roll down her cheeks. She leans on the kitchen island. Her back hurts. She feels like she's strained something.

'Mummy?'

She bolts up right. Ignores the sharp pain that runs down her spine. Blinks away the soreness between her legs. Shifts around the other side of the work top haphazardly, her foot dragging her underwear away from view. She ignores her protesting arms and legs.

'What're you doing?' Sawyer surveys her mother.

Peyton inhales sharply wipes her hands under her eyes. 'What're you doing up?'

'I-'

'How long have you been there?'

'Just now'

'Like right this second?' Peyton clarifies. Sawyer's answering look is one of concern. 'Like right this second?' Peyton repeats shrilly.

'Yes' The nine year old's voice is small. 'I heard the front door- was it Daddy back?'

Peyton gulps. 'No I...'

'What's wrong?'

'No-nothing'

'You're crying'

'No I..I'm just...' She haphazardly wipes at her tear stained cheeks again. '...being silly'

'Mummy' Sawyer hurries further into the kitchen.

'No! Stay, stay there' She halts in her path at her mother's shriek. 'I-I...I broke a glass. I, I don't want you to get any in your feet'

Sawyer frowns. She can't see any proof of her mother's story from where she's stood. 'Shall I call Dad Mum?'

'No. No' Peyton disagrees, her irritation apparent. 'No I, we just need to go home'

'Go home? I, I thought Daddy was gonna come pick us up in a while-'

'No. I- go get your shoes on ok?'

'But we're gonna have to walk if we don't wait-'

'Sawyer! Just do as I say! Shoes and Coat. Now'

Her growl is out of character. Her growl is not one the nine year old is accustomed to. Her bottom lip wobbles and then she's frantically doing as she's told and leaving the kitchen.

Peyton takes a shuddering breath. Doesn't have time to linger on her daughter's upset. She quickly squats down, retrieves her underwear and bawls it up in her hand.

•••

Brooke abruptly stops the silent footage because they've seen more than necessary. She can't watch her friend hobble away and out of view.

Peyton sighs, as she looks into Brooke's contorted face. 'I'm sorry' She exhales. 'I shouldn't have let you watch it, I just wanted to know it's how I think it is'

Brooke seizes the blonde in her arms then, tries to blink away the tears that have gathered in her eyes. 'God P, one second is enough to know you're being raped'

'I stop fighting-'

'No Peyton-'

'I just watched it B' She exhales shakily into her friend's ear. 'I stopped fighting. I just laid there-'

'Only when it became apparent you couldn't escape. Only when your body went into survival mode. You fucking fought hard- you struggled and then you survived. That's what I just saw' She clutches her best friends face, presses their foreheads together. '..what did he say to you...after?'

'He asked me if, if I was ok. He told me it was ok, that he wouldn't tell Luke...like we, we'd just, like I'd invited it, like he thought I wanted it'

Brooke grips her face. 'Don't fucking feel sorry for him. Don't fucking make excuses. That' Her hand wavers to the computer. 'That is not ok'

'...I know...I want to make excuses for him though B. Be-because then, then at least I can t-try to understand but he, but I can't understand because why did he keep this?' She wavers her hand at the computer screen, her voice wobbling.

'Don't try and understand. You can't understand because this person, he, he wasn't well...'

'I know'

'This is good' Brooke grimaces at her choice of words. 'Not good, but you know what I mean. This is evidence. This is proof'

Peyton nods. '...but I, is showing this to the police gonna help Luke? It gives him more motive doesn't it?'

'You think a jury of people aren't going to feel compassion for you and Luke after seeing this?'

'You said you didn't think they'd show it in a court' Her voice becomes high pitched. 'Luke can't see this'

'Don't concentrate on that-'

'How can't I? He's all that matters. He's all I can concentrate on' Her hands claw into her hair. 'He won't want me-'

'You need to stop thinking like that because it's just not true! He's always going to want you. Always. It's Lucas. He loves you. You're everything to him Peyton. You know that. This, none of this changes anything about what the two of you have. What has he done to make you think otherwise?' The distressed blonde shakes her head because her husband has done nothing to fuel her beliefs. It's all her. She knows that. 'You concentrate on him, but on us getting him out of prison. That's all. That's all you need to focus on and this is good. We're making headway. We've got testimony's from other people on Nathan's character. This video confirms everything you've told the police is the truth. It shows how bloody violent he could be P. This makes it more plausible that Luke could've been defending himself, that it was an accident. It does. If it's seen as self defence he could be home for Christmas even'

'Home for Christmas' Peyton echos in a trance.

Brooke nods and strokes her cheek 'Home for Christmas'