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Chapter 23: A Brewing Storm

Adam knew that Christopher was going to be furious with him. He had pretended not to be the previous evening, instead enjoying the way that Rachel was physically and emotionally hurt. Christopher had always been like that when it came to his elder sister, and Adam didn't think that he was going to stop anytime soon. But now, given that Adam had spent the evening in a prison cell, he knew that his mate wasn't going to be happy.

Even if Christopher was part of the reason he had done what he did in the first place. He had been egging him on to do something of the sort all evening. So Adam knew that what he did to Rachel, had been a mixture of alcohol consumption, Christopher's persuasion, and his ever growing anger at seeing another man with the woman he was besotted with.

And now to top the disastrous evening off, the police had just charged him with assault. Adam felt like a complete fool, he should have been more careful - just like Christopher had said.

He was surprised when he was permitted use of a phone, knowing that he would have to tell Christopher sooner or later. Before he worked it out for himself or started to get suspicious.

"Mate, where the hell are you?" He answered after a few rings, "I've rang your mobile seven times this morning. And where you phoning from now? Number withheld or some crap."

"Christopher…"

"What? Don't tell me you're with some bird? Not after I've listened to you harp on about my sister."

"No, god's sake. I'm at the police station."

"You bloody idiot. I told you! What did I tell you?"

"Do it away from CCTV… yes I know, I know."

"Christ sake. I should learn to bloody handle things myself," he paused, but Adam could still hear him breathing heavily, a sure sign he was furious.

"Look I apologise, okay?"

"Not enough. If you've screwed this all up… I swear to god. This better not come back on me."

"Will you just calm down? It won't, I've made sure of that."

Christopher scoffed, obviously unsure, "and they've charged you?"

"Yes. I'm afraid so."

"Course they have. Gonna have to get someone else to do your dirty work."

"Christopher…"

The line went dead, and Adam was left feeling as though Christopher would never forgive him. But also curious as to how he was going to carry out his plans without his help. Adam sighed, even if he got bail, he wouldn't be able to find out. Or assist in any way. Rachel was bound to get a restraining order against him, and then it would be too risky to go anywhere near Christopher. No, maybe Adam had decided it was time to stay out of this one. He wouldn't have much choice anyway - not if he got a prison sentence.

….

Eddie couldn't stop himself from replaying everything that Rachel had told him. Even the next morning as he lay in bed beside her. She was still asleep, and as Eddie looked down at her, he had no idea how she must be coping if he was struggling to get the thoughts out of his mind.

Eddie hoped never to see Adam again, or Christopher for that matter, because if he did, he was sure that he wouldn't be able to refrain from seriously hurting them both. What he worried about was, that this might not be the end. Although the police had told them the previous evening that they had enough to bring Adam in and charge him, that didn't account for Christopher. The question was, would he stop now? Would he see what Adam did as enough and let the whole situation go?

A sick feeling in the pit of Eddie's stomach told him that wouldn't be the case.

His thoughts then turned to Melissa, and his blood boiled upon thinking that she may have been involved. Surely not, surely not even she would stoop that low.

Movement to his right and a hand stretching across his stomach had Eddie looking down. Rachel still had her eyes closed, but her position had shifted, so that she was now tucked in at his side. Eddie straight away wrapped his arms around her, wanting to give Rachel comfort even though she was away in the land of nod. He just hoped that she had been able to escape the previous evening in her sleep, and that it didn't leak into her dreams as it had done with him.

Eddie couldn't deny that he felt partly guilty and responsible. When Kim had insisted on going out to see Rachel instead of him, he should have refused. What would have happened if that had happened? Maybe Eddie would have been able to persuade Rachel to come back in with him, rather than staying for a few extra moments.

He tightened his grip on Rachel and shook himself mentally. That was no way to think, if he thought like that then it would eat away at him and he would be no use with helping Rachel. Eddie couldn't lose himself to his own thoughts when she needed him now more than ever.

Besides, he thought to himself, perhaps in the worst possible way, this had been the start of a way out. Maybe it meant that Adam was out of their lives for good. But as Eddie had previously wondered, there was still a rather large Christopher shaped problem. He didn't strike Eddie as the sort of person to back down easily.

"Eddie."

Rachel's voice had Eddie looking down instantly, to find her looking up at him, hand bunched up in his t-shirt.

"Hey," he replied softly, smoothing a hand up her back, "what is it?"

Somewhat unexpectedly, Rachel sat up, prompting Eddie to do also. He was glad that, as soon as they'd repositioned themselves, Rachel tucked herself back into his side, giving Eddie a moment to wrap his arms back around her.

"What if… Melissa was involved? What if that's been the case this whole time?"

Eddie stifled a wince, unsure of whether to voice his true thoughts or rose tint them slightly. He decided on the former, knowing that being completely honest with Rachel about what he was thinking, would be part of supporting her. Besides, she could read him like a book anyway. Rachel would be able to tell that he was holding something back.

"The thought did cross my mind. I know we discussed it before but…"

"We haven't really talked about it since."

Eddie paused for a moment as he and Rachel simply looked at one another. He couldn't deny that she looked incredibly anxious, but was glad that as their eye contact lengthened, her expression softened. Rachel could obviously take some comfort from Eddie's presence, just like he could with hers.

He moved his hand so that it was cupping her face, delighted when she shifted her face into his palm for a moment, planting a kiss there before looking back up to him.

"Listen," Eddie began, "we were supposed to collect Darcy today, have her for a few days with it being the Christmas holidays. I was going to tell Melissa that you weren't feeling too great…"

Rachel placed a hand over his straight away, leaning forwards slightly, "oh, Eddie, you really don't need to do that. I'm not having you missing out on time with Darcy because of this. In fact, I'm not sure that I would want to either."

Eddie was incredibly touched by Rachel's words, just another example of how she was constantly putting other people before herself. His heart warmed upon hearing that Rachel didn't want to miss out on time with her niece either. Eddie had loved watching their relationship blossom over the past two months.

They shared a smile before Eddie began to respond, "only if you're sure Rachel."

"More than."

"Okay," Eddie nodded, "well, what I was going to say, was that… why don't we talk to Melissa today, when we pick Darcy up?"

"What and just sort of… ask her about it?"

"Yeah," Eddie confirmed, "hopefully we'll be able to tell what Melissa lying looks like by now."

"You'd think so. The amount of times she's lied to me, I should be an expert."

Eddie smiled faintly at Rachel's response, glad that she seemed to be part of her usual self. But Eddie didn't want to be fooled by what was on the surface, because he knew from past experience how easy it was for Rachel to hide her true emotions. He had to make sure she was okay but equally not push her too much.

"And how're you?"

"I'm fine."

"Rachel…"

"Eddie, I am."

He tilted his head, "you know that you don't have to pretend. Not with me."

"I know that darling," she spoke, stretching a hand up to cup his cheek now, "I'm just… trying not to think about it too much. So maybe fine isn't the right word to use but… I am coping."

Eddie sighed lightly, but nodded and smiled to let Rachel know that he understood her answer. He knew that she wasn't shutting him out, and that she did feel able to open up to him when the time was right. It was something they would revisit later.

"When's Philip coming down?"

"Christmas Eve I think," Rachel paused, "I… don't want to tell him about this Eddie. Not if we don't have to. It will only… panic him."

"Then we won't. Not if you don't want to."

"Thank you, Eddie. I am glad that he's decided to spend Christmas with us rather than at Melissa's friends'."

"Yeah," Eddie agreed, "and that'll be the only reason she's letting us have Darcy."

"Yes, it was a thought that crossed my mind."

"I suppose this isn't exactly what I had planned for the start of our Christmas holidays."

"Oh," Rachel looked curious, a slight glint in her eye as she tilted her head. Eddie was glad that she could still be like this, even after the following evening, "and what did you have planned?"

"That's a surprise," he grinned, "one that I'm going to keep for another time."

"You big tease," Rachel smiled back at him.

Eddie couldn't resist chuckling and huffing out a laugh, "you're one to talk," he commented, accompanying with a knowing look, hoping that Rachel would catch his drift.

She did, swiping a hand jokingly across his arm as she laughed slightly, "you haven't seen anything yet, Lawson."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes," Rachel confirmed, removing herself from his embrace as she swung her legs out of bed, "now come on, shall we go downstairs and eat?"

Eddie could do nothing but smile up at Rachel and agree. The slight smirk on Rachel's face confirmed to him that her slipping out of his arms as she just had, was just one of many examples of her teasing. Proving his point exactly, Eddie thought as he followed Rachel down the stairs.

….

Melissa had obviously picked up on their serious expressions as she answered the door, Darcy on her hip.

Rachel did sense her own face light up upon seeing her niece, and was glad when the little girl giggled back to her.

"Rach! Daddy!" She shouted cheerfully, not quite pronouncing the 'ch.' But Rachel could work it out, and had found it extremely heart warming for Darcy to call her that ever since she first said it.

Rachel gladly took her niece into her arms as she lunged forwards. She didn't miss the loving side glance from Eddie, but nor did she miss the slightly jealous look from Melissa.

Although Rachel definitely focused on the former more.

Rachel did take great delight in the way that Darcy snuggling into her, could wipe the reasons they were here from her mind. She certainly wasn't looking forward to confronting Melissa. Because she had never taken confrontation well.

But of course it wasn't long before Melissa broke that bubble, "you're here early?"

Rachel and Eddie shared a glance, "yes, we are."

"And why's that?"

Eddie sighed, looking across at Rachel before they both stepped further into the hallway, "look, we need to talk Melissa."

"Oh for goodness sake. Don't tell me you've found something else to hold against me."

Rachel knew that this was typical of her sister, jumping on the defensive before they'd even broached the specific subject with her. She just hoped that Melissa would think about everything a little more, once Rachel told her what had happened. That was if she wasn't already in the know.

The possibility sent a shiver down Rachel's spine. It was unthinkable.

"Just… hear us out Melissa," Eddie eventually spoke, nodding his head towards the living room.

She was obviously reluctant - evident from the eye roll and sigh. But nevertheless, Melissa turned and walked in the direction of the lounge.

Once seated, Rachel placed Darcy on her knee, allowing the little girl to play with the bracelet on her wrist. Hopefully that would be enough to distract her whilst they were having this conversation.

Rachel then made a vow to avoid raising her voice for the entirety of the discussion, before turning to an expectant looking Melissa.

"What we asked you, the other week… about, you know, Christopher."

Melissa threw her arms up in the air, "oh not this again! How many times Rach, he's got nothing to do with me."

Rachel was about to respond when Eddie cut in, keeping his voice at a normal volume but emphasising the level of anger.

"Just hang on a minute and listen."

Reluctant seemed to be Melissa's middle name at the moment. But her shoulders sagged as she crossed her arms, and Rachel knew that she'd be quiet for now.

"You remember Adam Fleet don't you?"

Melissa frowned, tilting her head at Rachel from across the room, "fat Adam?"

Rachel sighed and felt somewhat sad that her initially tactile relationship with Adam had come to this. She had known it before but he most certainly wasn't the person he was when Rachel had first met him. Christopher had put pay to that.

"Well, not anymore, but… I believe we are talking about the same person."

Rachel's comment stopped Melissa in her tracks as she glanced between Eddie and her sister.

"Wait, 'not anymore,' so you've seen him?"

Rachel looked towards Eddie and then down at Darcy, more for comfort than anything else. She wasn't exactly going to go into detail about what had happened with Adam, not like she had done with Eddie. Rachel only intended to outline the event, with hopes that Melissa would get the picture. But even the thought of doing so sent a chill through her body.

"He's been working at Waterloo Road as a chef, for several weeks now."

"And you didn't think to tell me?"

Once again it was Eddie who put his hand out, cutting through the conversation and Melissa's selfishness, "for god's sake Melissa. Can't you see there's more to this than whether or not we told you?"

It was weird how Melissa glanced down and Eddie's words worked once more. Rachel took the opportunity to offer him a grateful smile. She would be lost without his support.

"Did… did you know that he's still close with Christopher?"

"Christopher talked about him, yes. But… I thought that they just stayed in touch. Not best pals or anything like that."

"They are in fact… still very close."

"What?"

"Look, Melissa," Rachel began, running a hand through her hair as she thought about what she had to say next, "last night, something happened, involving Adam. He and Christopher had obviously been planning that… or… or something else."

"Are you suggesting that I was involved? And what on earth happened anyway?"

Rachel didn't feel capable of doing anything other than sharing a glance with Eddie for what felt like the tenth time that minute. Just anything to calm her down. She felt like he wanted to cross the room and wrap his arms around her, but settled for a faint smile and warm expression that did Rachel the world of good.

"Come on Rach," Melissa eventually commented, "spit it out, what happened?"

Rachel took a deep breath and studied her sister. She was looking for any signs that Melissa was involved, anything suspicious. From her body language to the way she was speaking, Rachel couldn't pick up on anything. Maybe that was more to do with the way her head was pounding when thinking about what Adam had done to her, or the way the room now felt as though it was spinning.

Now Eddie did cross the room, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and taking Darcy into his arms. He sat down next to her, and placed a hand on her knee. Just the sensation calmed her.

Once Rachel's vision had refocused, she was sure that she could see Melissa scowling at them. But Rachel did try not to notice. She just hoped that her sister would be slightly more considerate once she did explain.

"He assaulted me."

"Adam?"

Rachel nodded, almost holding her breath in anticipation of Melissa's reaction.

"Well that's not the Adam I know."

Rachel felt the tears prickling in her eyes at Melissa's indirect jab at her dishonesty. Eddie reacted too, automatically tensing and glaring in her sister's direction.

He shook his head, "I really wouldn't go there Melissa."

Rachel was weirdly glad when her sister's expression turned somewhat serious, "how bad?"

"It could have… been worse. Although he is facing charges."

"And what?" she bit back, "this is you two plotting to suggest that I've got something to do with this, isn't it?"

Eddie scowled and Rachel placed a hand over his, just telling him that it was okay and that she was holding up.

"Christopher… he…. was involved. I… I have to ask Melissa."

Something indescribable flashed through Melissa's features, but was gone within a second. It took Rachel a few moments to decipher the emotions, but she ended up being almost certain that Melissa did know something about what had gone on.

"Just be honest Melissa," Eddie commented, "for once in your bloody life."

She sighed, "I will, I will. Okay? Just drop it for a second."

Rachel felt taken aback by Melissa's vow, finding herself gripping on to Eddie's hand as she awaited her impending speech.

"I didn't know about what they were planning. I didn't even know that Adam was on the scene. I promise you I'm telling the truth with that one."

A lump in Rachel's throat formed, and she knew that she wasn't going to be able to speak anything more than a whisper.

"What is it that you're… not telling the truth about?"

"I knew that Christopher wanted revenge. I'll put my hand on my heart Rach, and tell you that I… tried to talk him out of doing something unforgivable. But… there was no getting through to him. He was determined."

"Hang on a minute," Eddie spoke before Rachel could even think about doing so, "is this you saying that you knew Christopher was planning something? And you didn't bother to mention that, you know, when we asked you if you knew where he was."

"I know, I know I probably should have told you. I'm sorry Rach, and you Eddie."

"Probably?" Eddie scoffed.

"Just… Melissa, why didn't you say anything?" Rachel spoke more softly, interrupting her sister's attempts at a response to Eddie.

"As much as you're my sister Rachel… Christopher is my brother. There was no way I was going to drop him in it like that."

Mentally, Rachel took a deep breath. Willing the tears gathering in her eyes not to fall. The previous evening coupled with Melissa's admission now was almost too much to handle. She just wanted to get out of there, and be in the company of Eddie. The only person she could ever be vulnerable too.

"Okay," she managed to get out whilst stifling a sob.

Apparently Melissa didn't notice in the slightest, which somehow made everything ten times worse. The only thing which gave Rachel the ability to stand up was the way Eddie squeezed her hand along with Darcy's smile.

"Okay?" Melissa questioned incredulously.

"Yes. I'll… have a nice Christmas."

Rachel's sister remained silent, simply nodding whilst watching them walk away.

….

Eddie knew that Rachel wouldn't let the tears fall until they were well out of sight from Melissa. He just hoped that he was somewhat helping as they walked towards the car. He was guiding her with an arm around her waist, balancing Darcy in his other arm.

They reached the car and Rachel turned to him, tears now over spilling. It was an image that broke his heart.

"Just… what she said Eddie. Her comment about you know, Christopher. And I… it just topped everything off…"

"Hey, come here sweetheart," he whispered, wiping the tears back from Rachel's eyes as he brought her into a hug, albeit restricted with Darcy, "I'm here."

Surprisingly, it was the little girl who spoke next, looking between Eddie and Rachel somewhat curiously.

"Rach sad."

Eddie could only smile faintly and he was glad that the babble got a similar reaction off of Rachel. At least her niece could make her smile, even in this situation.

"Oh I'm just being silly," Rachel smiled across at her niece, moving her hand so that she could tickle her gently. Darcy's giggle was in such contrast to the atmosphere, but yet again, Eddie was delighted to see a genuine smile form on Rachel's lips because of it.

"Now who is this?" Rachel smiled, referring to Darcy's teddy bear that Eddie could only assume to be new - he didn't recognise it.

"Ted," Darcy grinned, holding the soft teddy up to show Rachel, somewhat proudly.

"I think he's rather lovely."

Eddie seemed to zone out as he watched the exchange between Darcy and Rachel. He seemed to be enraptured by the moment - it was a light in the midst of current events in their lives, a distraction from all that had gone on. Eddie could see the remains of a sad look in Rachel's eyes, and he was sure it was something they would discuss later. He could tell that Rachel had wanted to open up to him, Eddie was just glad that it didn't seem as though she was going to push him away.

For that split second though, everything seemed to stop as Rachel and Darcy continued to giggle. Because there was something so special about it, and Eddie did find himself feeling incredibly lucky.