Jenna sat in her living room, trying to hold back the tears. It'd been two weeks since her traumatic ordeal and she hadn't allowed herself time to think about it. Now, it was all she could do. She wasn't at work because she still had three days of annual leave remaining, Craig wasn't there as he was taking his second mechanics exam and Jade was back at work. The Lawson's had driven back to their own houses just the day before, again due to work reasons. For the time being, she was alone. Standing, she headed to the kettle. She needed a cup of tea. Normally one of her small pleasures, she doubted even that would cheer her up much right now. But she went through the motions almost automatically, putting in the teabag, leaving it to brew, adding sugar and milk. Walking back to the kitchen table, she sat down with her favourite mug. She picked up her kindle and tried to read her book. She'd recently started a thriller and had been enjoying it. But today, right now, her eyes couldn't focus. She couldn't take in a single word. She lowered it to the table with a sigh. There was clearly no escaping it.

Richard Taylor. First his cruel drugging of her with chloroform, then kidnapping her. Even his daring to stroke her cheek made her want to vomit. Sleaze shit ball! She was glad he was dead now, but his ghost… Ah his ghost, he was another matter. Would he ever stop haunting her? His words still sent a chill down her spine. "How about you open your legs for my big hard cock like a good little girl, hmm?" She never thought she'd be grateful to a mobile phone. If only she knew who his caller had been, she'd thank them. They'd saved her from rape. If his phone hadn't rang, he would've raped her she had no doubt of this. She couldn't talk about it to Craig, because for some stupid reason he was blaming himself. Just a few days ago, she'd seen him punch a wall in anger. Something he hadn't done in all the time he'd known her. She'd pulled him close and kissed him again and again until finally he'd got hold of his anger and emotions. It made her want to cry. He would've died for her, she knew it. She knew Jade too was suffering guilt as a result. She blamed herself because of the ties with her mother. Jenna privately thought it was more likely to be this reason it'd happened as opposed to Craig's connection. But she'd never know for sure and honestly she didn't want to. But it was the powerlessness she'd felt, Taylor's view that he had the right to fuck her because he had a penis and it was hard needing gratification. She'd tried to comfort herself with the thought that they'd had to handcuff her, as if they knew she wasn't someone to mess with, but it didn't help. Finally, after over two weeks, Jenna let herself give in to tears.

"Recess!" Judge Mark Webber slammed his gavel down on the bench. Stuart sighed. It was looking more and more as if his Client may be found guilty for his crime. Privately, that pleased Stuart. The arrogant little shit deserved as long a sentence as possible. Stuart hated him. But on a work front, this was bad news. Once or twice he'd even come close to handing the case to someone else. He was defending a guilty man, there was no doubt left in his mind. He was seriously considering talking privately to the judge, being honest with him. It was getting harder and harder every day to see the guy, let alone talk to him, all be it on legal matters only. He headed towards the court restaurant. The food wasn't bad, but he didn't feel very hungry. Apart from anything else, he'd woken up that morning with a headache and it wasn't shifting. He'd swallowed two painkillers and tried to avoid the damn bright light in the defence box. Not an easy task.

"Counsellor," his Client snapped after him. Stuart turned. "This is my lunchbreak," he said evenly. "It can wait until my return." Without another word, he walked away. Money be damned. This guy rubbed him up the wrong way. "I'm paying you good money," his Client snapped, reaching him and grabbing his jacket. Not hard enough to rip, but hard enough to stop him. "Please let go," Stuart said, keeping his voice calm. Damn his head was killing him. His Client sneered, tightening his grip. "I'm warning you Mr. Toogood," Stuart warned, reaching for the alarm in his pocket.

"I fucking want to talk to you Counsellor," Toogood snarled. "I'm paying you to do so, good money I might add, in case you've forgotten!"

"Maybe so, but this is my lunchbreak. I'm not paid then. I need to eat something." Stuart yanked himself away and strode in to the restaurant. Arsehole. Who the hell did he think he was? I think I understand the need to kill. If this guy keeps pushing me, I just might do it. Damn I wish I had a knife and a fucking mask right now. Wants to talk on my damn lunchbreak and when refused uses physical force as if I'm shit on his shoes.

His work phone rang at that moment. It was the clerk, telling him that Webber had postponed the restart due to looking at new evidence. It would be an hour later. Stuart headed outside, he needed air. Toogood strode out of the doors towards him. Stuart turned away, but again Toogood wasn't having it. He grabbed Stuart's jacket a second time.

"Listen up!" He snarled. "Counsellor," he added with open contempt. "You know as well as I do this isn't looking good for me, so do your fucking job! I say I want to talk; you talk! I say jump in this case, you say how high? I am not paying for you to be fucking lazy!" Stuart could almost see Toogood's longing to punch him in the face, as he had his victim, but didn't dare. Bring it on! Stuart found himself thinking, almost wishing he would. That would give him an excuse to get this little bastard locked up for a very long time.

"Can anyone tell me how we're supposed to get 50 gold napkin rings, 25 bunches of red roses and 5 large chocolate cakes by tomorrow morning?"

Jade looked up and sighed. It was Danielle Ward, again. The woman spent her life complaining, criticising and giving orders. Unfortunately she was one of the Supervisors, so hardly anyone dared to say anything. When she said "how are we supposed to" it was actually another way of saying one of you get on with it." Michelle Conway looked up from her desk. "You know Danielle? If you spent half as much time working as you do complaining, you'd probably have all that by now."

Danielle turned in her seat in anger, but Josh spoke up. It was clear he didn't like her either, but couldn't say anything. Colin Stanton, the owner of Stanton events did and he was the big boss. He was a billionaire living in the US. They strongly suspected Danielle was sleeping with him, given the fact she constantly took leave for long periods of time and had been overheard asking about renewing a passport. They'd also noticed she tended to take leave whenever Stanton was here, "on business" he called it. It made Jade feel sick. They were made for each other. Yuck. Josh had to tolerate her; they all did. "Let's just stop arguing and get on with it shall we? Danielle, you have the phone numbers on your sheet, give them a call. We still have plenty of time if we crack on now." Jade grinned behind her hand. She could read between the lines, they all could. Shut up, crack on.

Jade focused on her seating spreadsheet once more. Every so often, she thumbed her engagement ring and smiled. She had never felt so happy and in love in her life. Michelle saw her looking at it again now and winked at her. Jade really liked her. She was one of the nicest women Jade knew outside of her family. "Jade," Rachael called from her desk. "Can you have a look at this for me please? I just want to make sure it's all ok?"

Jade nodded, smiling and standing. Rachael was their newest member of staff. She was hard working, kind and a fast learner. Jade was only too happy to help her. Sitting next to Rachael, she began to check her spreadsheet, finding only one mistake. "Good job," she congratulated the young girl, who smiled shyly at her. "Thanks." Jade realised with a stab of anger that Danielle who was her manager, probably hadn't said a single word of encouragement towards her. Jade vowed then and there to help this girl out, just as Michelle was.

When she'd finished work, she text Dominic. During the course of the day, she'd remembered a promise they hadn't yet kept. Dom text back a few minutes later, saying he was free that night. Jade text Michael telling him she'd be a little late back. He didn't reply. Jade only hoped that wasn't a bad sign.

Jenna didn't hear the kitchen door open or the footsteps approaching her. She only looked up in shock when she felt someone kneel beside her chair and the gentle arms close around her. Irrationally she found herself hoping it wasn't Craig. She didn't want him or Jade to see her this way. It wasn't pride either. She just knew it would hurt them greatly. Slowly she looked up and felt shock but gratitude shoot through her. It was Michael. He held her tighter, pulling her close to him. She tried to smile at him through her tears, but it wasn't very convincing. She felt her head rest on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she started but Michael shook his head before gently kissing her cheek. This time when she smiled at him it was a little more genuine. He made no move to take out his notepad, just held her tightly as she got herself under control a little at a time.

"Fucker Richard Taylor," she managed eventually. She found herself needing to talk about it. She wasn't sure why; all she knew was she had to. Onset of her own PTSD? Perhaps. "Just thinking he could fuck me because he was hard! I felt so damn powerless handcuffed to that bed! I wish I knew who called him that night, they saved me from rape! I'm almost certain of it. I'm also really sorry you had to see me like that! I can't thank you enough for picking those handcuff locks and carrying me out of there! This is the first day I've been alone since it happened and it all just hit me!" She tried to pull herself together. "I'm really sorry Michael, I didn't mean…"

His arms tightened further so she couldn't move. She looked up, meeting his eyes, hers swimming with tears. There was no mistaking it this time. There was warmth, sympathy in his gaze. Perhaps on previous occasions she'd be able to tell herself she'd imagined it, not this time and he was looking straight back at her.

"I always wanted to thank you for what you did," Jenna spoke softly. "With all my heart. I just never knew how. Not only for this either. I can't tell you how happy you've made Jade and that means the world to us. We know just months ago you'd have killed all of us without a second thought. I've seen Jade's engagement ring, I've seen the smile on her face, the way she looks at her phone when you're not with her, the picture of you she has as her screensaver both there and she tells me on her work computer. She adores you Michael, absolutely adores you. So you know something? That means so do we! I love you like my brother, Michael Myers."

Myers gently pushed her hair back from her face and passed her some tissues. Again she managed another shaky smile. "He… He's definitely dead, right?" She knew it was a stupid question, but she had to ask. "Richard Taylor?" Michael withdrew his notepad.

I don't know anyone who can live through a slashed throat, Jenna. Yes, he's dead, you have nothing to fear.

"Easy for you to say," she said softly. He raised an eyebrow. Jenna didn't want to say it, but she had to. He was looking at her questioningly and she'd gone too far now. "His ghost," she said in just above a whisper, expecting him to laugh. But he didn't. Instead, he gently took her hand in his.

By the time Dom and I reached the park cafe, Andy and the other two men who'd been there that night were already there. Dom and I smiled at them as we entered and shook hands. Turned out the other ranger was Rob; the ambulance driver was Keith. Dom went up to the counter to get their drinks and I took my seat opposite Andy.

"We did promise," I smiled at him. He nodded with a grin. "How's Stuart?"

"He's fine thanks," I smiled back. "Doing really well for himself. On a big court case right now. He's a Lawyer."

"Glad to hear it," Rob said. Dom came back over with the drinks. I had bought the cakes.

"Andy," I said eventually after hesitating and giving myself time by biting in to my chocolate chip muffin. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot," he said.

"It's… Just something I've been wondering. That night, you told me you had a friend who has S.U.S. Given that only 500 people are estimated in the whole world to have it, was that true?"

He looked at me steadily for a few seconds, then answered, his voice soft. "Caught me Jade. No, it wasn't. But how cold would I have sounded if I'd just said don't worry I've been trained on this, researched it, whatever. Your brother in law was lying there unconscious and the last thing you needed was a guy who sounded like he didn't give a damn, just another job, etc etc."

I couldn't help it. I reached over and shook his hand again, grateful for his honesty. "Perhaps you're right," I smiled at him. "Would've sounded kind of cold I agree. Thanks for your tact."

"How's your husband?" Keith asked. "Nice ring!"

"Thanks," I smiled back at him now. "He's fine thanks."

"Pass on our regards," Andy said. I nodded. "Will do, thanks."

"Still can't get over how he lifted Stuart in to that ambulance all by himself," Keith said in awe. "That's one strong guy!"

"Tell me about it," Dom and I said in unison, nodding. We'd both seen Michael's strength more than once since that night too. Kyle came to my mind immediately. Michael had bodily righted his damn car!

"Do you…" Jenna's voice shook. She could hardly believe she was about to ask Michael Myers this. If anyone knew about ghosts, he would she was sure. How many of his victims haunted him? "Believe in ghosts?" Michael raised his notepad again.

I can honestly say I haven't given it much thought.

"But have you never felt… You know… Haunted by any of your victims? I mean perhaps not when you… Well… Still needed the kill, but now? Taylor's made me lose so much sleep it's unreal. Whenever I close my eyes, there he is. His sneer, his words, his face…"

What happened to you, Jenna?

"Before you arrived? He asked me if…" Jenna shivered. Could she even say it out loud? Even this far after the event, it was a struggle. Michael gently squeezed her hand and that allowed her to do it. "He asked how about I open my legs for his big hard cock like a good little girl?"

Michael's face didn't change expression, but for the first time Jenna fully understood what the others had meant when they spoke of Michael's rage. Steve had mentioned it when Jade had been in her coma following the attack. Sartain had mentioned it countless times. But this was the first time Jenna had ever felt it for herself. She wasn't aware she'd shivered until Michael gently rubbed her back. Damn he could be terrifying sometimes. No wonder he was so dangerous. Without knowing it, Jenna found herself thinking exactly what Jade had just the day before. "Was? Or had been?

"They handcuffed me to the bed then cut my clothes off," Jenna kept her eyes on his. "As you saw. I wanted to talk to you about it, but I didn't know how. That was something just between us but before I didn't feel well… Brave enough. You were furious that night understandably and I didn't want to talk to you about it in front of the others."

You should've come to me. I'm here for you, Jenna.

"I know," she squeezed his hand which she was still holding. She couldn't have said why, but she felt comforted by that alone. "Thanks Michael. It was just so… I had no dignity, I just felt so… exposed. Like every single part of me you could see. You had to pick the damn handcuff locks with your knife and rip off my gag. I knew you loved Jade, of course I did. But I also knew you are… Were… A masked killer, as was witnessed just hours, hell minutes later. You were wearing your damn mask at the time! I… I guess I was almost as afraid of you as I was of Taylor that night."

Did you think I was going to kill you?

"No," Jenna shook her head. "I believed your promise. But I just felt so vulnerable. I was drugged, I couldn't move and if for some reason you had decided to, I'd have been utterly powerless. I mean I would've been anyway, but even more so with that stuff in my system. Hell I know no one stands a chance when you want to kill them so it wouldn't have made a difference, but…

Jenna, you were in no danger from me. You are a member of my family and I had promised Jade way back you were all safe. Perhaps back then I intended to break it, but we'd gone way past that by the time this happened to you.

"Try telling a naked young woman that when she's drugged to the gills," Jenna tried to smile.

Point taken. But I promise you, I wasn't going to hurt you.

"Thanks," she squeezed his hand in hers again, tighter this time. "I still appreciate you saying that."

Then you're welcome.

This time, her smile was completely genuine. "I'm still struggling though," she said softly, not knowing why she was doing it as she leant towards his ear, whispering now. It wasn't as though anyone else could hear them, hell they were alone in the house. But she felt compelled to do it. "Just… Those memories. I don't know if they'll ever fade completely, if they even can. It was the most horrific, terrifying night of my life! I can't talk to Jade or Craig; they both blame themselves." She rolled her eyes. "Like they kidnapped and drugged me. Craig…" She stopped for a second. But she had to tell someone. No one except her had seen it. "Craig was so angry three days ago he actually punched a wall. I've never, ever seen him do that before and it scared the hell out of me. Craig is almost as terrifying as you when he's angry. I managed to calm him, but shit…"

He loves you. That's all. He's understandably upset he couldn't stop it happening to you.

"I know, but I've never seen anyone punch a wall before. Caused a whole we had to get someone out to fix before any of you saw it. He must've held me for hours," Jenna blinked back tears again. "Telling me how sorry he was, that I'd never see it again and that would never be me. He was almost crying Michael."

Then I rest my case. It was guilt, love, Jenna. That's all.

"I thought I was over it," Jenna said, as another wave of tears hit her. She desperately tried to blink them back, but couldn't. Michael continued to hold her, as she squeezed his hand as tightly as she could. "Just those handcuffs… Taylor's getting ready to rape me, he even stroked my fucking cheek when he was talking to me! I haven't told Craig that, he'd want to kill him all over again! It was just… Oh Michael it was so fucking scary, humiliating, I felt so alone! I was sure I was going to die you know. That the Taylor's were going to kill me!" As she finally let her tears go with no restraint, she felt Michael gently push her head back against his shoulder, absorbing her tears in to his shirt. She tried to pull back so this didn't happen, but Michael was having none of it. She released his hand and hugged him fiercely when he softly kissed the top of her head.

"I love you Michael Myers," she sobbed. "I love you so much!" I've wanted to tell you that for ages before this even happened! I love you!"

As do I you, Jenna Ellis.

Eventually she pulled back, heading for the coffee machine. She knew how Michael took his coffee. She finally handed him the mug.

Thank you.

She made herself another tea, then walked back over to him. He stood, gently taking her hand as he led her in to her living room and they sat side by side on the leather sofa. Jenna's phone buzzed and she pulled it out. Glancing at the screen, her face broke in to only the second genuine smile of the day. "Craig's just passed his exam!"

Fantastic.

"I know," Jenna looked back at Michael her eyes still a little red, but the smile still on her lips. "Thank you, Michael."

For what?

"For being there," she squeezed his shoulder. "When I needed someone most. I'd been struggling with that but like I said, didn't want Craig or Jade to see it."

That may have been the case, but sometimes you have to think of yourself, Jenna.

"Easier said than done," Jenna nodded. "I take your point. But after seeing Craig punch that wall…" She gestured to a small patch of the living room wall, where the damage could still slightly be seen despite repairs by a professional. "It nearly killed me. I think he was worried I was worried he was going to hit me. I've never feared that in all the time I've known him. He'd never lay a finger on me."

I think he knows you know that, but it doesn't make it any easier.

"You're referring to when you stabbed Jade, aren't you?" Jenna's voice was soft, gentle. Michael nodded.

That nearly ripped my heart out, Jenna. A feeling so new it scared me, in the same way Taylor scared you. I didn't know what to do. I think it would be fair to say I hated myself for the first time in my life then. She was standing there bleeding heavily and all I felt was panic. I'm glad Alice and Lance arrived when they did, although I could've got her to the house myself, all I could think to do was staunch the bleeding.

"Oh Michael," Jenna put her arms around him. "But Jade loves you so much! She knew she'd approached you when you were angry, she blamed herself for that too you know."

she needs to stop taking the blame upon herself for someone else's faults. I have told her this many times.

Jenna actually laughed a little at this. "Tell me about it! I've also been trying to tell her that very thing for years!"

"So if you don't mind me asking," I said to the three men as they finished their drinks. "What do you do when you're not looking after the park?"

Keith grinned. "Nothing too exciting, I'm a dustbin man."

"I'm a delivery driver," Rob said.

"I think mine's the most boring," Andy grinned. "I work in an office. Admin. Dustbin and delivery sound a lot more fun." Keith wrinkled his nose. "Hardly, it stinks. Although you do get used to it with time."

"What about you?" Rob asked me.

"I'm an events organiser. Wedding's, Christenings etc. Can range from them to birthday and Christmas parties, even funerals sometimes."

"That sounds interesting," Rob finished off his strawberry tart.

"Can be," I shrugged. "But it can also be incredibly stressful."

"I can imagine," Andy grinned. "Ah, deadlines." I laughed.

"I'm an office manager," Dom said. "Now that's stressful, having to tell people off, check reports, check deadlines, you name it. Money's good though, can't lie there."

It was then I felt my phone buzz. Pulling it out, I saw Michael had finally replied. My heart did its usual flip. I knew what it was now, it's called being head over heels in love with someone. Ok. No problem. See you later, my love. M.

I took that as a good sign. If he'd been out satisfying his hopefully old crave, he would not have written that. I knew him well enough to know this. So he hadn't been out for the kill. I felt myself sigh with relief inside. Good.

"I should be getting back," Andy said eventually. "Wife and kids will be home soon."

"Same here," Keith and Rob said together. "Thanks for the drinks," Keith said, extending his hand. All five of us shook hands before the three men took their leave.

"We were so lucky they were there that night," Dom said to me as we walked back towards Craig and Jenna's. I nodded fervently. "Indeed we were!"