Thank you for the reviews.

Now... I made everything happy in the last chapter, now for... some unhappiness. In the shape of S03E20, split into 3 parts. So this is one of three.

For my grand plan, this is still the end of term, but the end of term 5 (so just before the May break). Mainly because of what I make happen and then having the time afterwards to let things happen more naturally. All will be made clear.

Just... please don't kill me. Okay?

Where's Eddie?

It wasn't so rare for Rachel to be in a good mood. Eddie had learnt to read her very well. So he knew when she was actually in a good mood and when she was in a good mood because she felt like she had to be. He knew that she definitely had more of a reason to smile. They hadn't seen Danny for a long time and with everything else going smoothly, there was no way that Rachel couldn't smile.

It was that wonderful smile that he was met with when he entered the antechamber. It was the only reason that he couldn't tell her and he was quite glad that she hadn't asked about the envelopes in his hand. Although he noted a similar one in her's.

"Mr Lawson, you are early." She said.

"Well… it is the end of term."

"I thought that would be more of a reason to lie in bed for a little longer."

"Would have been if you were there."

He did enjoy the way that she giggled at that. Even more so when Bridget joined them. She nodded her head into her office and he closed the door behind him, wondering what she was going to say.

"So, as you rightly said, it is the end of term."

"So?"

"I know over the last couple of weeks that Bolton has been spreading it that we are dating, but why don't we make it official?"

"If you are happy with that."

"I just like the sound of calling you my boyfriend rather than my deputy. Outside of our professional meetings."

"You know what, I am the same. With girlfriend and boss."

"I am still the boss."

"Of course you are."

He didn't actually think it was possible for Rachel's smile to widen but it did and the envelopes in his hand started to feel heavy. Telling him that her happiness could be ruined.

"I think we also have another few things to discuss as well."

"Like?"

"Oh come on Eddie."

"What?"

"Well… I basically live at yours now. Why don't we make it all official?"

"Being my girlfriend and moving in? Mason, are you feeling okay?"

"Almost your girlfriend. We have another six hours before it will be official."

"I can deal with being your almost boyfriend for the moment."

Rachel laughed. "Almost boyfriend."

"What?" He said as he started to chuckle.

"You, Eddie Lawson, are a ridiculous man."

"Adding that to soppy sod."

"Definitely. But you are mine."

He walked over to her, pulling her towards him with the arm that had the envelopes in to hide them. He knew the look on her face before he kissed her and if anything, he was slightly glad that soon they could do this whenever they felt like it, rather than just keeping it to her office. He took the opportunity to take the post out of her hand and threw it down onto her desk, after picking up the envelope that he wanted. What she didn't know wouldn't hurt her, would it?

The easy part was getting rid of the envelopes. Eddie knew that it might only be the start of what could happen and he knew that he couldn't allow it to happen. He couldn't allow Danny or Stuart to dampen her day.

He leant against the bin as he started to try and formulate a plan as to how he was going to stop anything from happening. He couldn't let Rachel down. Not now.

Part of him wondered whether he should tell Rachel to, at the worst, give her the heads up.

With the thought that Forest Mount would be turning up soon, Eddie knew that the best thing to do would be to go back, act like nothing was happening before disappearing to stop Danny or Stuart or both of them. Couldn't let Rachel know. He could explain later.

With a nod of his head, he pushed himself off the bin to make his way back towards the school. Part of him did note the van coming down the drive. It was probably what distracted him before an arm wrapped around his neck. He thrashed around as pressure was placed on his neck but he couldn't get them to loosen their grip.

"Let's see you save her now," Danny said before he passed out.

Rachel didn't want to go in without Eddie but as she noticed Forest Mount arriving, she knew that she had to go and brief the staff.

Her mind went to their conversation that they had earlier rather than the worry that was rising in her. She knew that Danny had been too quiet. She knew that he wouldn't go quietly and that he would end up doing something. Best case, he would tell everyone about her life as a prostitute. Worse case, he would hurt Eddie.

She smiled to herself, questioning when Eddie rose higher in her list of things to keep safe. He was now up there with both Jane and Sally and she did hope that nothing was going to happen. She wanted to finally be able to introduce him as her boyfriend. She wanted to move in with him. She also wanted to see the look on his face when she told him about the little trip she had planned for over the summer holidays.

With her thoughts back on her almost boyfriend, she pushed the door to the staffroom, ready to face them before the day started.

"Right, Forest Mount have arrived. Now, I'm going to say to you what I said to the kids, let's be on our best behaviour. We're going to show 'em what we're all about yeah?" She paused slightly. "And when it's all over, drinks are on me. Well, the first drink anyway."

The mention of alcohol seemed to lift their spirits slightly.

"And has anyone seen Eddie?" She continued. "Or Grantly?"

"I haven't seen them all morning," Matt said.

"Eddie is probably doing all that paperwork he had in his hands this morning," Steph said. "I can go and see if I can find them both."

That told her what the envelopes were about.

"Thanks, Steph. I'll see you downstairs for the spelling bee."

Rachel let out a sigh of relief. Maybe nothing bad was going to happen.

The light felt harsh as the cotton bag was pulled off Eddie's head. He blinked a couple of times to gauge his surroundings but he had no clue where he was as he looked down the abandoned warehouse or farm building. That wasn't what really worried him. What worried him was Danny standing in front of him while he was tied to a chair. Eddie pulled on the ropes keeping his hands behind his back but couldn't budge them.

"It's no use, Eddie. I was a boy scout until they kicked me out for almost burning down the scout hut. Bit of an arsonist. But don't worry. You are in safe hands." Danny said.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing now. There is nothing you could give me. Maybe I shouldn't have said safe hands."

He walked towards Eddie and he did not like the look on his face. It seemed like Danny was contemplating what to do until he raised his fist and swiped it across Eddie's cheek. Eddie's head moved due to the impact and he groaned at the pain that erupted in his cheek.

"Because you couldn't leave it alone, could you?"

Eddie didn't really have a lot of time to reply before a punch landed in his stomach. He leant forward as much as he could but was only pushed back by Danny who gave his cheek another going over.

"Because it had to be you. Wasn't it? Got us looked into. All for that slut."

Eddie quickly realised that this was going to be a one-way conversation and he should worry about how he could protect himself, which was difficult with his hands tied behind his back and his legs tied to the legs of the chair. Rachel was right to be worried about the beating that Danny would give to him. It was brutal but Eddie was glad that he was in a chair rather than being held up at the start. At least there was no way that he was going to end up on the floor and getting a kicking, especially when he noticed the Doc Martins that Danny had on his feet.

Danny seemed to start running out of steam and Eddie was grateful when he took a couple of steps away from him. He leant back as he tried to catch his breath, now certain that the crack he had heard earlier was at least one of his ribs. His left eye was starting to swell and he was glad that the punishment was over for the moment. He shook his head, trying to get his vision to refocus.

"You know what Eddie. I don't know why you went to the trouble. What is it about you? Everyone else who was told left. Why the fuck did you stay?"

"How do you know everyone else left?" Eddie said, breathlessly.

"Well, who do you think told Melissa to tell her previous boyfriends that she was a whore. It works a treat." He paused as he chuckled. "You asked me why now. That was a good question. I wasn't expecting that from you. Why now?" Danny shook his head. "Because I needed her. I needed a way to get back into her life and that was the perfect opportunity. I have been waiting for it for the last 17 years. The bitch thinks that she can run off, get a new name and a new job and doesn't think I would do anything about it. She went against the family. She called the police on me. We are always loyal to each other. I am sure that even you have heard the phrase snitches get stitches.

"Amanda… Everything that is going to happen today, she had brought on herself when she called the police on me. She is going to regret that day. Maybe it wasn't going to happen this way but you didn't help. Fucking meddling the way that you did. Don't you worry, I'll let her know. Then she won't just blame me for fucking up her life this time around. You will be to blame as well." He paused "Although, I am still wondering whether to send you back to show her that I mean business. Or would be taking you away from her the worst thing I could do?"

Eddie gulped as Danny got the gun out of the waistband of his trousers. Multiple thoughts rushed through his head, mainly linked to both Rachel and Michael. At least he knew who was important to him. He couldn't stop his thoughts from racing and the panic rising in him.

It was a relief when Danny's phone rang.

"Stuart." He said before he paused. "Oh good. More the merrier." He paused again. "What did we decide to do with her lapdog again? Because I am more than willing to put a bullet between his eyes."

Eddie hated the way that he was looking at him or how he raised the gun and pointing it at him. The fact that he couldn't catch his breath wasn't helping in his panic.

"You are no fun, Stuart. But I suppose you have a point. We can always take him out later can't we?"

The relief that flooded through Eddie was too much as Danny handed the gun to one of his men. He was sure that he was going to cry and tried to stop himself as a few tears slipped down his cheeks.

Danny grabbed his face and held his only an inch away.

"Don't for one second think that this is over. Because the day has only just started."

Eddie didn't like the way that Danny whistled or the way the bag was replaced over his head. If anything, he was grateful that he had the chance to go back to Rachel. The most important question he had was, where was Stuart?"

Rachel was a bag of nerves. Not because of the spelling bee or football. It was because Eddie wasn't next to her and she was now thinking worst-case scenario. Danny had him and she hoped that he would allow her to have Eddie back. She knew how unkind Danny could be. She knew of at least three people that he murdered or there were more people than she would have thought that he would have contributed to their death due to the amount of damage he did to them.

So her smile and excitement wasn't the same as it should have been when Karla said the last letter of the last word and Matt dinged the bell, signally that she got it right. She was at least sportsmanlike as she leant over to give Geoff a cheeky comment about going easy on them.

Making her way to the stage should have felt more rewarding but nothing felt right without Eddie next to her. She wasn't a hundred per cent certain about what she was about to say but she knew that she had to say something. She would have been happier if her deputy and (almost) boyfriend was there, smiling up at her.

"Well, okay. Thank you." She shouted to get her lot to calm down. "Wow, congratulations to Waterloo Road spellers. And commiserations to the Forest Mount team, you gave us a good fight, didn't they? I just want to give a really big thank you to our English department because they have been coaching these spellers for the last few weeks and you've done a fantastic job, thank you." She waited for a moment while there was an applause. "Let's hope that Mr Clarkson and Miss Koreshi have done just as good a job with the football team."

The whole hall erupted in noise and it was lovely to hear. She had a school where she knew she could be proud of the students and staff. It was a school where she felt like she finally belonged. Waterloo Road, Rochdale, Eddie. That was where she belonged and it was so nice to finally find somewhere.

"Now, as you know, this is my first year at Waterloo Road." She started but was stopped by the doors of the hall crashing open.

"Don't worry. Carry on." Stuart said.

Rachel opened her mouth to say something but no words came out.

"No. Nothing, Amanda. I lied when I first met you. Rachel doesn't suit you at all. Because that isn't her name, you see. Not flashy Rachel Mason but Amanda Fenshaw. Prostitute."

She wanted to say something. Anything. Mainly to get him to shut up but nothing happened. Tom had got out of his seat to probably get Stuart to go but her thoughts turned again to Eddie. She needed Eddie.

"Just so you know, Amanda. You can blame Eddie for this." Stuart said before he pushed Tom back. "All you had to do was get us that contract. But Danny was right. He knew you would fight it all the time. But I suppose, as your cousin, he would know you better."

There was the second thing that she didn't want people knowing. Stuart's voice was drowned out by her breathing and she searched the hall for a familiar face that she knew wasn't there. Stuart was suddenly not there and she had a load of faces staring at her with a mixture of shock and disgust. She didn't know how to handle it or what to do. She was still searching for Eddie.

"I… I… I…" She took a shaky breath. "I don't know where to start." She stopped to get a grip. She had to tell them now. "But… I do… I do have to confirm that everything that… was just said was true. I… I was a prostitute." She paused. "It is a part of my life that… it was the worst time of my life and. I am very ashamed about it. The… last 17 years of my life have been trying to put that time behind me. If for one second, I thought that my past would ruin the reputation of the school, then I would leave." She paused for a moment, taking in their faces again. "But I suppose that isn't for me to decide."

Rachel didn't know how grateful she was when Tom walked towards her as she made her way out. Someone needed to take control and Eddie wasn't there to do that.

"Can you umm… sort everything out? I think I have a phone call to make." She whispered to him.

"Of course." He said with a nod of his head.

She felt like she was still keeping it together. All she needed to do was to get to her office. There she needed to sort out what she was going to do.

Eddie didn't remember when he had left Danny's company but there was no denying that he had just been dumped on the side of the road. It was probably a bad sign that he couldn't remember but with Danny's words still replaying in his mind, he knew he had to try and get back to Rachel.

He grunted as he managed to get himself into a seated position before getting himself on his feet. He was glad for the wall as he started to walk, using it for support until he got used to the pain that shot across his body. All he needed was a phone, after checking his pockets to find his wasn't there. Although he already knew that. He knew that his phone was in his bag, which was in his classroom.

He knew why Danny had chosen the road that he did. Eddie did not see a single car until he reached the end of it. He thought about trying to get someone to give him a lift, so at the very least, he wasn't in a rural location but he felt like the way that he must have looked would put a few people off and if someone was going to try and help him, then they would probably end up taking him to hospital rather than the school. He needed to get back to Rachel.

With a phone box insight, he went through his pockets again, trying to find what loose change he had to phone the school. Finding the bare minimum, he knew that he would have to reverse the charges and set about dialling the number. It was an agonising wait before Bridget picked up.

"Good morning. Waterloo Road Comprehensive School, Bridget speaking. How may I help?"

"Bridget. It's Eddie. Is Rachel there?"

"Eddie? Wait where are you?"

"Doesn't matter. Is Rachel there?"

"Yeah. We won the spelling bee but… she came back all weird. I think she has been crying."

Eddie dropped the phone from his ear before he hit his fist against the glass of the phone box. They all knew and it was his fault.

"Can you put me through please?"

"I don't…"

"Please Bridget."

He heard the glass window slide a bit before Bridget said that it was him on the phone. There were a few moments of silence before he heard her voice.

"Eddie, where the hell are you?" Rachel said.

He hated the way she sounded. She had definitely been crying and he could only imagine the thoughts that were racing through her looked around for a clue to where he was but had nothing.

"I don't actually know Rachel. What's happened?"

"Stuart… he… he told everyone. At the end of the spelling bee. They all know and… I don't know whether it is worse that they know that Danny is my cousin as well."

"This is all my fault." He said as he resisted the urge to bash his head against the glass as well.

"No, it isn't."

"It is, Rachel. I'm… so sorry."

"Eddie…"

"Look, I'll explain when I get back."

"And how are you going to do that? If you don't know where you are." She paused for a moment. "Danny had you. Eddie… how much damage did he do?"

"I am fine."

"No. You probably aren't. I can give you Sally's number. She can find where you are."

Eddie fumbled about for the pen that he had found earlier. He drew a couple of lines on his hand, making sure that the pen would write on his skin before he said he was ready. Rachel gave over the number and he was glad that he was a step closer to getting back to her.

"Please, Eddie. Be sensible. If Sally thinks you should go to hospital, please go."

"I will be back with you soon. I love you."

He would have said that things couldn't get any worse but this was Waterloo Road and Danny. Eddie knew that this was only the start and he hated to think how far Danny was prepared to go.

"I love you too."

He put down the phone before picking it up again and typing in the number to reverse the charges and then typing in Sally's number. He tried to calm himself down as he waited for Sally to pick up.

"Hello."

"Sally, it's Eddie. I need your help because I have messed up big time."

"Eddie, what's going on?"

He sighed before he started to explain to her the events of the day.