Thank you for the reviews.
Now, the good news is this the last chapter with Danny in. Bad news... What does he do? (Although I did feel a little sorry for him while writing this chapter... is that okay?)
The Worst Influence
Eddie knew that he should have been more alert, that he shouldn't have been staring into space, but he didn't really know what to think or do. It had been two weeks since Rachel returned to work full time and he was wondering whether it was the right decision. He knew that she wasn't the same person that they were building back up before the fire but he knew that her confidence had taken a massive hit and he didn't feel like Melissa being around was helping at all.
So it was why he was thinking up ways to get Melissa to back off when Sally placed her hand on his shoulder, causing him to jump out of his skin. Sally allowed him time to get his breath back as she sat on the desk in front of his. She was smiling at him but it was almost an apologetic smile.
"Don't worry. I don't think Rachel saw me." She said.
"I think that is the least of my problems at the moment."
"Eddie… she isn't going to like you going behind her back. Especially now."
"I know." He paused. "Just you saw her back all those years ago."
"But this is Rachel that we are talking about. Jane has always been able to get through to her and I know Rachel and me have our moments, but I don't even think Jane knows Rachel quite like you do at times. I know it seems like you have lost it but she is still under there. She has just built herself back up."
"It is just strange. We… go from her showing me the scar and being like we were and then… she holds me at arms length again."
"She will let you in again. Mainly because you have stuck with her."
"Do you know everything that happened to Rachel?"
"I think I know enough. Jane definitely knows more and thought it was best to only tell me part of the story."
"Did you know… about her and Danny?"
"I guess you are talking about the baby. So yes, I know that. Did she tell you or did he?"
"He did. She then explained. We spoke about having children weeks ago. She said that it was for another time but she never said no. I wouldn't like to say she said yes either. And I want to ask her more. Like what she wants. Whether she wants to get married and everything like that but." He stopped for a moment. "After finding that out, I don't know whether to ask or not."
"I get what you mean."
"I just want to protect her."
"I know you do and the more you find out, the bigger that urge becomes. I mean, have you met Jane."
He did manage to laugh at that. "I don't know whether I want to know any more."
There was a moment of silence where both of them had the time to gather their thoughts.
"Now did you call me out all this way to talk about Rachel or was there something else I can do for you?"
"Did you find anything out about the Kellys?"
"Did quite a bit of digging for it to just pull up loads of anti-social behaviour complaints and warnings. Never taken to court over it though and never formally charged. Although Earl is on our radar now. It was the first thing that one of the officers said to me when I called them up. Watch out for Earl Kelly. Apparently there has been a few incidences where they would have loved to be able to charge him with something but could never get the evidence to link up to him, even though they were sure about it."
"Great?!"
"Why do you say that?"
"Last couple of days." He paused for a moment. "I have caught him talking to Danny by the fence. It is in a blind spot but I am certain it is him. Mainly because he is gone by the time I get there." He paused again. "I can't let Rachel know or otherwise she will start worrying about it. I get this feeling that she is just about coping as it is and I don't want something just to tip her over the edge. It is the only reason there isn't a bottle of whiskey in the office at the moment."
"There isn't much I can say or do other than say that we can keep an eye on them both. Now I try to be an honest cop but if there was one person I could plant something on it would be him. If only I could get him locked up for life."
"He is bound to slip up at some point."
"Is that before or after he kills you or Rachel?"
Eddie didn't answer her. Mainly because the only person that he had outrightly told that Danny had threatened his life was the officer that took his statement. He felt like Rachel knew what he was implying but he hadn't yet told either Jane or Sally. He didn't know why but he felt like the time may have passed.
"Eddie?"
"Anyway, I don't think that Melissa is helping with Rachel's mood." He said, moving the conversation on. "She told the staff that we were together. Not that they already had their suspicions and basically told her that they already knew."
"I bet Rachel was happy about that."
"Philip came by on the second day, saying that he would have loved to warn us but Melissa had only told him that morning that she was starting at Waterloo Road and he was transferring there."
"That sounds like Melissa all over."
"And she seems to be throwing herself at every male teacher other than Grantly. I think Davina almost slapped her the other day when she tried to go after Tom."
"Don't tell Jane that. She would love to be there, with popcorn and everything. I don't know whether it would be to see someone slapping Melissa or the girl fight."
"I think I could join Jane's hate club for Melissa."
"Jane will be glad to hear that."
The only reason that Rachel had allowed Joyce to go home was because there was a huge amount of post to go out, which Joyce took with her to drop off in her local post office when she left, and the older woman had told her that her grandson was ill at nursery and her son and daughter-in-law couldn't get away from work. Rachel had reassured her that she could answer the phone herself and anything else could wait until the morning.
It was quarter past two when she heard the door to the antechamber open and close. She knew that because she had looked up at the clock, confused about who it could have been. The window beside Joyce's desk was closed, to give her a bit of privacy, but her door was open, so she could hear the other door. When no one came to the office door, she stood up, hoping that whatever was distracting her from her paperwork was worth it. She was actually on a bit of a roll and was set on getting it done before the last period, so she could spend that last period surveying the school. A month with very little trouble seemed impossible when she first started Waterloo Road but that is how her first month back had been. Although she suspected that the student might have been briefed by a certain deputy to not give her any trouble.
Rachel said hello, just to try and be inviting, but she never expected that she would walk out into the antechamber and there would be Danny and Earl standing there, both with guns in their hands.
"Hello Mandy, been avoiding me?" Danny said as he raised his gun.
"I thought you would have heard that I almost burnt alive."
"See there is a small problem with that, isn't there? Almost. Bloody Stuart couldn't even do that right. If you got out alive, you were meant to have burns covering your body."
"Who says you haven't scarred me again?"
"Have I finally put Mr Overprotective off?"
"When is this going to end Danny?"
"It is going to end when I have you begging on your knees, pleading for me to show your mercy." He said as he started to walk towards her. "Might even include Mr Overprotective. I told you not to be brave Mandy. Do you really think that you would be anything more than the slut that you are? You don't belong in this world. You belong on your back, giving pleasure to men however they set fit."
Rachel tried to remain calm but there wasn't a lot to be calm about. She stepped back into her office and noticed the fire alarm by the door. She was quite glad when Danny stopped where he was. The last thing the school needed was the fire alarm going off, but she also needed to keep her students safe. Even more so after Danny's next sentence.
"You know, I can't wait to wave this in Eddie's face again. Did he tell you? He cried. Maybe because he knew that he would have to go back to you. I'll have to taunt him for a while. You know, tell him about how you died. Maybe he'll cry again before I give him the chance to be reunited with you."
She silently asked everyone to forgive her before she launched her hand out and pressed the fire alarm. The ringing started immediately and she could already hear the evacuation process going on. She knew that it infuriated Danny. He obviously wanted the panic and chaos that the gunshot would have given.
"This is between me and you, Danny. Not the 600 odd students that are under my care and protection."
He didn't like that as he grabbed her shirt and pushed her into her office.
"Eddie, what the hell is going on?" Tom said as things started to calm down.
"Honestly I have no idea. Where's Rachel?"
"Haven't seen her."
Eddie grabbed his phone out of his pocket, not making the same mistake twice when it came to the fire alarm going off and Rachel not being there. Although he couldn't see where a fire had started from. This was definitely not a drill, he would have been briefed on it and Rachel would have been waiting for everyone to come out.
"Eddie." Rachel said, once she had picked up. Her voice sounded shaky.
"Rachel, where are you?"
"Can you call the fire brigade? Tell them that they won't be needed."
"What's going on?"
"Eddie… I am so sorry. I am sorry for going backwards. I am sorry for holding you at arm's length. I am sorry… I am sorry. I love you."
"Rachel. Why does this seem like it did last time?"
"Just… say it back Eddie."
"I love you too."
"Goodbye, Eddie."
He wanted to call out, tell her to tell him more but he heard an all too familiar voice and he knew that there was only one thing he could do. He tilted the phone up, so he could still hear what was going on as well as talk to Tom.
"Tom, call the fire brigade. Tell them what we don't need them."
"But the fire alarm?"
"I know. But call the police. Rachel's in danger again."
Rachel knew that the tears streaming down her face weren't helping but she turned her head to see that it seemed like the evacuation process was going well. She could see the lines of students and some of the teachers starting to walk up the lines to take their registers. She knew that there should only be one pupil missing. Everyone else should be accounted for.
"What to do with you?" Danny said as he started to pace. "Earl, any ideas?"
As much as she thought that Earl wanted to be known as the hard man that he was trying to portray, she could tell a scared kid when they were sitting in front of her. Earl obviously liked the idea of a life of crime but didn't actually know that that entailed. Danny had, unfortunately, been raised on that life.
"Nothing mate?" He continued.
Earl shook his head, confirming to Rachel that he was out of his depth.
"Maybe you could have your way with her. Could boast it around later. That you were the last one to use her like the slut she is."
"Danny." She said as she noticed Earl get more uncomfortable. "Take the gun off him and let him go."
"Why would I do that?" He said as he took a step towards her.
"Because he is just a kid."
"He is only a little younger than you were."
"Exactly."
"What makes you think he wants out?" He laughed. "You can't save everyone, Mandy. Some people are just born for the chaos. I know so many girls that would have been grateful for the opportunity I gave you. I mean, how hard is it? Lying on a bed, allowing a man to use you whatever way he saw fit. Let him throw you around into the position he wanted. Except you wanted all this paperwork and responsibility. I know what I would prefer."
"That is because you have no sense of responsibility."
He raised his hand, probably to either hit her or choke her, when her phone rang. He picked it up off her desk and handed it to her.
"Mr Overprotective. You know what to do. Be a good girl Mandy."
She answered it and held the phone to her ear.
"Eddie."
"Rachel, where are you?" Eddie said, his voice full of panic.
"Can you call the fire brigade? Tell them that they won't be needed."
"What's going on?"
"Eddie… I am so sorry." She said, knowing that she had to give him something to make him know that, yet again, she was in danger. "I am sorry for going backwards. I am sorry for holding you at arm's length. I am sorry… I am sorry. I love you."
"Rachel. Why does this seem like it did last time?"
"Just… say it back Eddie."
"I love you too."
"Goodbye, Eddie."
She made out that she pressed the hang-up button but just dropped her phone from her ear to her side.
"Now that wasn't difficult was it?" Danny said.
"Just… why Danny?"
"Didn't he tell you?"
"What? That you have held a grudge for the last 17 odd years. That this is all your revenge. Didn't you ruin my life enough the first time?"
Her phone fell out of her hand as Danny launched himself at her, pushing her against the window as his hand came underneath her chin. She noticed that her phone must have landed underneath one of the sofas, hopefully still on the call to Eddie.
"Don't you mean did you ruin my life enough the first time around? You got off easy. You found Jane and you got your life back on track. I was humiliated. I had it all come crashing down around me. Dad took back the drug trade and I was told to lay low. Dad and Granddad sorted it all out for me. And now I owe them. You owe me Amanda, not the other way around. I didn't ruin your life, you ruined mine. I was set to be as successful as them and now they won't even let me touch a business that I helped get all over London. I've had to start again myself. Away from their territory. I was going to be more successful than they ever were and you destroyed that with one phone call to the police. You think the family hates you. They despise me."
"They still gave you more help than they did me."
"Why would they? You were a traitor."
"I did what I had to do."
"And now I have to do what I need to do."
"You don't Danny. That could have been your opportunity as well. Go somewhere and make something of yourself. You can't stand there and tell me that you always wanted to be feared. I remember the little boy that ran all the way back to get someone when I fell out of that tree. James was going to go but you said that you were quicker. You weren't always this hard man. And it wasn't just for me. Melissa as well. That day that she almost burnt herself around grandmas with the kettle. You were quick to get her hand underneath the water when she screamed out in pain. You cared once, Danny."
There was a moment when Rachel finally thought that she had got through to her cousin. He let go of her as he started to laugh and walk away from her. She was actually worried now what might happen. It wasn't the first time she had tried to appeal to his better nature.
"Well that was the problem, wasn't it? I cared too much when I was younger. And I was meant to follow in my father's footsteps. He had three girls to keep in line. I had seven with very little help from James and Ben. Found out later that they were asked to stay out it passed a certain point. Because they all thought I was too soft.
"Didn't help that I was one of the youngest. I had you and Melissa and that was it. And you know how easy it was to get Melissa around my little finger. Just suck up to the fact that she thought that she was what she thought she was. You." He said as he pointed the gun at her. "You were something special. And I know that it is wrong and… But Amanda, there has been no one else but you. And you stand there, with this never-ending kindness and strength and bloody-mindedness and… it's always been you.
"And I know what I did. I know the situation I put you in. But you were going to leave me, Mandy. I couldn't let that happen and I thought and thought about a job for you to do and I couldn't think of one other than the one I gave you. I didn't know the baby was mine until afterwards. Someone put the dates together for me. Mandy, if I knew." He whispered the last part as he bowed his head.
Self-preservation. That was what she had to do. That was until someone came to save her. She slowly walked towards him, hoping that her movements wouldn't make him do anything stupid. When she reached him, she placed a hand on his cheek, which caused his head to shoot up and the gun to stab into her stomach. She carried on, placing her other hand on his other cheek, cupping his face.
"Danny, we couldn't have done it. We were too young. A 22-year-old and a 19-year-old with a baby in the world that we lived in. It wouldn't have worked. You were right. I was stupid to think that I could have made it work." She dropped her voice to a whisper. "You don't have to do this to prove a point."
"I don't think you understand Rachel. Either I have you or no one does."
She knew that Danny calling her Rachel was the thing that surprised her the most. Not Earl jumped out of his seat and grabbed her, pulling her down to the floor as the gun went off or the ways the window smashed as the bullet hit the glass or the policemen finally bursting through the door of the antechamber. He had called her Rachel and she didn't know how to take it.