Thank you for the reviews.

You are more than welcome to string Danny up at any point... He... isn't going to get any better any time soon.

Right so... another 2 weeks have passed and basically, I wanted to introduce Wilson without the whole Jasmine thing... Because as much as we do enjoy that part of her character development, I have another way to cause a bit of drama.

Plus this is a bit of a two-parter within this story. With the next chapter finishing it off. Will be made clear.

When Danny Is Involved...

Eddie could only feel himself getting angrier the more he stared out of the window. It didn't help that he had noticed Danny loitering outside of the gate when he left the staffroom and he was still there by the time he reached Rachel's office. It was the third time he had seen the bastard but he was sure that if he went out to confront him, Danny would be gone before he reached him.

There was a part of him that hoped that Rachel hadn't noticed but he knew what she was staring at when he entered her office. She probably had a pretty good view of him from where she was standing. She turned her head slightly to make sure it was him before she went back to playing with her necklace.

"It's the third time today I've seen him." He said.

"Right."

"I just feel that there isn't much I can do. He technically isn't on school property and he would be gone the moment he saw me storming across to him."

"Well… there isn't much you can do, can you? They've won the contract. They have a reason to be on school property." She paused. "Apparently, I will still do everything that he tells me to do."

He wanted to tell her that it wasn't her fault. That she never asked for this. But he didn't think that she would accept that. Instead, he walked over to her, running his hands down her arms before he wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind. She relaxed into his embrace and he placed a kiss on her temple.

"I do understand why you did what you did during that meeting. I remember the woman, who decided to change the whole running of the school on her first day. A woman, who I thought, couldn't be fazed easily. I get that he is the only thing that scares you."

It was like he could hear her mind working, to come up with a good reply to what he had said. One of her hands covered his and he felt her relax more as Danny finally got in his car and left. Eddie hoped that it would be the last time he would see him in the next 24 hours or so. He wrapped his arms a little tighter around her.

"Eddie."

"Yes."

"I think… I think I am going to need you more than I originally thought."

"I've already told you. I'm not going to leave you so easily. We are a team, you and I. We will do this together."

She somehow managed to turn in his arms. She rested her hands on his shoulders as she looked up at him. He had come to learn that the look that was currently on her face was one that meant that she either wanted to let him in or to tell him something. With the recent reveal that Danny had made her lose her baby, Eddie hoped that it was the first one. He didn't think he was in the right mood to hear any more of her horrific story. Even if that was a bit selfish of him if she did want to open up to him.

"You don't know how much I needed to hear that."

Her hands followed his shoulders to bring him into a hug and he couldn't help but feel a little guilty about the sigh of relief that she was going to just let him in. Because she would tell him more and he would have to be ready whatever mood he was in. Rachel was his first priority and responsibility. Sometimes he might just have to remind himself of that.

"The bloody supply teacher hasn't shown up again," Eddie said as he stormed into her office. "Julian is only off for two weeks and we are already halfway through the first one. The agency better not want payment for this."

Rachel found herself smiling up at him. It was definitely something that she found easier in the last week or so. She felt like with the building work beginning shortly, not that they knew a start date and she wasn't going to be chasing Stuart or Danny for one, she needed something that would relax her or stop her racing thoughts or just stop her from doing something stupid. It was weird for her to think that Eddie might be that person when she still couldn't let herself believe that she had his support or love.

"I'm guessing, as a good deputy, you've adapted the cover sheet appropriately."

"Naturally. Might be the reason I am slightly riled up. Just had to argue with Steph to get her to take this period."

He seemed to have noticeably calmed down and she wondered whether she had the same effect on him as he did her.

"Well, I'll have to get onto the agency again." She said, with a sigh.

"Heard anything? About the building?"

"No. I know it should get going as soon as possible because then we can use the facilities that it is going to use but…"

"The longer they stay off-site, the better."

"Danny is apparently project manager."

"Of course he would be."

"So yes. The longer they stay off-site, the better. I couldn't deal with Danny parading himself around the school like he owned it."

The knock on the door stopped their conversation and Rachel was glad that it wasn't Stuart or Danny. She could only imagine one of them standing outside, listening to the conversation. But maybe the man that stood at her open door wasn't the best person. Even before he spoke, Rachel was sure that she recognised him. She just couldn't place where.

"Wilson Bingham. Replacement supply."

"I'll go and change the cover sheet back," Eddie said.

"I suppose you should do," Rachel said. "Welcome to Waterloo Road. Eddie will show you where your classes will be and might as well leave Steph for this period but get yourself a cup of tea or coffee and get yourself settled in."

If Rachel had been left to her own thoughts, she might have worked out where she knew Wilson from. However, she wasn't given that luxury as Bridget arrived at the door.

"Stuart would like a quick word."

She glanced over at Eddie and knew that he wanted to be with her now. The problem she had was that she didn't know Stuart. The only time she had spoken to him was when she showed up on that day that they started blackmailing her. Other than that, she had only tarnished him with the same brush as Danny because he had associated himself with her cousin.

"It's okay. Send him in."

Eddie gave her a look that she replied with a smile. He was only making sure that she was okay with this. She wasn't quite so certain once the door had closed behind Stuart.

"Don't worry. He isn't going to join us." He said.

"Really?"

"He doesn't even know I am here."

"Then why are you here?"

"I wanted to personally thank you for the contract. I know that we should have started by now but there have been a few… problems that needed sorting. The diggers will be moving in tomorrow."

"Right."

"I thought you would be happier about that."

"Well… I think we need to lay down a few ground rules. The main one being that you have both got what you wanted. You've got the contract. So can you just get on and build the training school and leave me alone? There doesn't need to be any more of this… blackmail."

"I couldn't agree more."

"But?"

"No but." He took a couple of steps to be closer to her. "Look… I'm not happy about what happened. In all honesty, I would like to make up for my part in all of this. Why don't I take you to dinner?"

Her mind instantly went to the lunch she had shared with Danny and she knew that it would end up like that again. Even if it was Stuart in front of her.

"I don't think that would be a good idea."

"If you are worried about Danny joining us, then don't be. It will just be me and you."

"Then you don't know Danny."

"I do think that you are being a little harsh. He has changed from the person you knew then."

"No, he hasn't. Trust me, Stuart. I know him better than you will ever know him. And there is one thing for certain. When Danny is involved, trouble follows. I don't think you have seen half of what he is capable of."

It was the smile that Stuart gave her that worried her the most. It made her revisit the first thought that she had when he first walked into her office. Either he was familiar to her or Danny had told him everything. She didn't know which one she preferred.

She definitely didn't like the way that he leant on the desk to get closer to her. She was glad that she hadn't accepted his offer of dinner. She wasn't stupid. He was going to offer her dinner but wanted more than that.

"I was only trying to offer you a hand in friendship. Maybe you are the one that hasn't changed."

There were obvious upsides to Rachel going and spending the night at Eddie's. It meant that he heard about her day and most of that was done during the school day, meaning that when they got to his, she could enjoy his company and the little ways that he did to try and take her mind off what had happened. She knew that he could be hot-headed but she was getting used to that. She just hoped that he would talk to her before he did do anything stupid.

The downside to her spending time at Eddie's was that Jane wanted to be completely caught up with what was happening, mainly because Danny was back and she wanted to know what frame of mind she was in. It had meant that she had yet to fully mention what happened the day of the meeting because they were just worried when she had said that they had the contract. Eddie knew that she'd had lunch with Danny. At this moment in time, Jane and Sally didn't. And she was grateful when he didn't push her too much when she said that Stuart had offered to take her to dinner. She knew that he was as angry about it as Jane but Eddie didn't seem to need the explanation that her cousin needed. Which made Eddie slightly easier to talk to about things.

"I am so glad that you didn't take his offer," Jane said as she finished.

"I was never going to."

"Good, because that creep has been around Danny. God knows what he would have wanted."

"It did cross my mind."

"Rachel… is there something you aren't telling us?" Sally said.

Her eyes flicked between Jane and Sally and she knew that she would have to say something.

"Danny… turned up at lunchtime during the meeting for the bid. He took me for lunch and taunted me about the baby and told me that I would be getting them that bid whatever way possible."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Jane said.

"Because I told Eddie."

"I think you told Eddie more than just that," Sally said.

"I told him that Danny was the reason I lost the baby."

"But not that he was the father," Jane said.

The same feeling of wanting to be sick rose in her again. It usually did when she was reminded that her cousin was the father to her only opportunity to be a mother. Her mind flashed back to the events that made that possible. She knew that she had to give them an answer and she tried to swallow down the bile as she shook her head.

"I think it would be best to give the rest of my story to Eddie in chunks. I… I don't know what I am most scared of. Him not wanting anything to do with me, me pushing him away or Eddie doing something stupid to get Danny off my back."

"I would have that down as a bad thing. The last one."

"I don't want Eddie getting hurt. I've taken one of his beatings. If he would hit me the way that he did, I could only just imagine the full force of his anger. Eddie… he wouldn't stand a chance."

"But someone has got to do something Rachel. I know that it took Danny 17 years to find you but he isn't just going to go away. And I think you know that."

"But you don't know Danny the way I do. Jane, if he wants me, he is going to get me. Whether you or Sally or Eddie stand in his way.

"But why should you fall again?"

It was the way that Jane said it that made Rachel stop and think. She knew her cousin had a point but she would stand by her statement. If Danny wanted her, then he was going to get her, whether they liked it or not. It wasn't fair that she was bringing this into their lives. The problem lied with where it was all happening and why it was all happening. The school couldn't be dragged through another controversy and that was what was going to happen. If she stayed.

"You're right. I've been so blind."

"About what?"

"I should have done it the minute I knew he was involved."

"Done what?"

"Resigned. Because this is my mess, not the schools. And something needs to be done before it does."