A/N: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing lovelies :)
"I've got your money, Dean. You need to tell me when and where you want me to deliver it, because I want my daughter back and I want her now."
Slamming the phone down on her desk, Katy ran her hands through her hair and stood, picking up the water bottle beside her and taking a long swig. Jack and Phil had completely taken over the search for Ruby, refusing to let the young woman get involved. She hadn't taken too kindly to that and decided that she didn't care about the money or keeping face or whatever the hell else they were going on about. She just wanted Ruby back.
It didn't help that Dean wouldn't answer her calls. She had tried several times and, finally, decided to leave an answerphone message in the hopes of him getting back to her when he realised she was going to give him what he wanted. It had been the longest day and a half of her life.
"Dean!" Picking up the ringing mobile instantly, she breathed his name, as though sure it would be a mistake.
"16, Kempley Road. Come alone and bring the money."
He hung up, but Katy was already on her way out of the office. She didn't answer as one of the barmaids called after her, not even sure who it was, crashing through the door and stalking towards the tube. She knew where the address was, in a rough part of Walford.
It took her about fifteen minutes to find the house, not even hesitating as she rushed up the path and hammered on the front door. Transferring her weight from foot to foot, she bashed on the wood again when it wasn't immediately answered.
"God, you're impatient." Dean rolled his eyes at her as she shoved him aside the second he opened the door.
"Where the fuck is my daughter?"
Almost missing the thud that signalled the front door closing behind her, Katy whirled around and found herself staring into the face of the young man. Dean grinned at her, taking two steps forward and forcing her back. Suddenly she was aware that no one knew where she was and, from the expression on Dean's face, he wasn't particularly keen for her to enlighten anyone. Katy swallowed thickly as her back collided with the post of the banisters.
"Where's my daughter?" She repeated, willing her voice to remain even.
"My niece is safe." He told her, stepping forward again. "I wouldn't hurt her."
"Where's Ruby?" Katy demanded again, her anger overtaking her fear. "Tell me!"
"She's upstairs."
When she turned to head up in search of her, he grabbed her arm. "Where's my brother?"
"For god's sake, I have no idea! How many times do I have to tell you?"
He shoved her backwards, one hand on her shoulder and the other on the wall beside her head. Katy narrowed her eyes, anger overtaking fear as he leant towards her threateningly. Sensing that she was about to bring her head forward in an attempt to headbutt him, Dean grinned and quickly leant away.
"Don't even think about it, Mitchell."
"Get out of my way, then."
"I want answers."
Katy snorted. "I thought you wanted ten grand."
There was a bang as Dean punched the wall beside her head, not even flinching as the plaster cracked and dropped in flakes onto Katy's shoulder. She blinked a couple of times, holding her nerve and jutting out her chin defiantly. Dean's eyes narrowed as he realised she wasn't going to tell him anything.
"Where is he?" He asked slowly, his tone low and threatening.
"I don't fucking know." She replied, equally slowly.
This time she was ready. As Dean raised his hand, evidently intending to hit her, she ducked. His fist connected with the wall, causing another shower of plaster dust. A grunt of pain escaped him and Katy took the opportunity to dodge sideways and escape his grasp.
He was still between her and the staircase, blocking her route up to her daughter. Backing away as he advanced towards her, Katy felt behind her for the door handle and felt the door give, letting her almost fall through it.
Katy tried to shut the door, but Dean blocked it, pushing through and storming towards her. In the middle of the living room she stopped, squaring up to him and standing her ground. There was no way she was letting him think she was scared of him. Dean was nothing compared to some of the people she'd been up against and Katy was confident that she could fight her way out of whatever was heading her way. With Ruby upstairs she was even more determined to get them both out.
"We both know you know where Nathan is… and what happened to him."
Katy laughed softly. "So what if I do? You're never going to be able to prove anything."
"He's really dead?"
She just shrugged, neither confirming nor denying anything. Dean glared at her. He lurched forward and grabbed her by her hair, pushing her back onto the sofa. Katy felt the air knocked from her lungs as she crashed down onto it, falling at an odd angle with the young man landing heavily on top of her. Gasping to get her breath back, she was assaulted by flashbacks of a terrifyingly similar situation.
Katy froze, unable to move as Dean's breath washed over her face and his hands moved over her body. She swallowed thickly, feeling sick to her stomach and unable to understand what he was staying to her. The threat in his tone was obvious, as was his intent from the way his fingers were moving on the buttons of her shirt. One hand moved inside, roughly grabbing at the lace of her bra. The sound of ripping lace was almost a deafening roar in Katy's head as she struggled to force her body to react.
Then it did. With an explosion of movement she regained control of her senses, reaching out for something, anything, that would help her gain the upper hand. As her fingers closed around something solid, she brought it down with all her strength onto the back of Dean's head.
He let out a furious yell at the impact, but shifted enough that Katy could repeat the motion with more effect. She kept hitting until he fell, face first, onto the floorboards. Even then she continued to batter the man, tears clouding her vision until, finally, she sank to the floor and wrapped her arms around her legs and buried her head in her knees.
It took a few minutes for her to compose herself. Inhaling sharply, Katy hauled herself to her feet and regarded the motionless figure in front of her with a scowl. Fury surged through her as she thought about what Dean had tried to do and she kicked him, hard, for good measure.
Then she gingerly stooped and checked for a pulse, careful to avoid getting any blood on her. The young woman was unsurprised when she didn't feel the tell tale beating under her fingertips. Wrinkling her nose, she thought about her next move, glancing upwards and deciding that she needed to get her daughter out of the house and safely home before she did anything else.
Pulling her cardigan sleeve over her hand she picked up the table lamp that she'd used to defend herself and carefully wiped it until she was sure that her fingerprints had been completely cleared. Doing the same with the doorknob, she closed the door behind her and raced up the stairs, two at a time.
"Ruby? Rubes? It's Mum…"
A door opened along the corridor and Katy burst into tears at the sight of her daughter. She gathered the seven-year-old into her arms and pressed kiss after kiss to her face and hair, until Ruby pushed her away complaining. Smiling at her, Katy wiped her daughter's fingerprints off the handles to the room she'd been in, before going inside and gathering up anything that might suggest the girl had been there at all.
"What are you doing?"
"He said you could have these." Katy lied quickly, stuffing the toys into a bag that was helpfully lying around and ushering her daughter out of the room. "Ruby, don't tell anyone you were here, alright? Gramps and Uncle Phil are furious; everyone's been really worried about you."
"Are they cross with you?"
"No… but they would be if they knew I came here without them."
"Why?"
"They don't like Dean." She explained, pushing her through the front door and closing it carefully behind her. If Ruby thought it was weird that had been wiping everything with the fabric still pulled over her hand, she said nothing. "They think he's dangerous. He… he didn't hurt you, did he?"
"I'd like to see him try." The little girl told her fiercely.
Laughing softly at her spirit, Katy pressed a kiss to the top of her head and grabbed her hand. She led her quickly along the street in the direction of the tube station, before changing her mind. Biting her lip, she hesitated for a moment, before completely changing course and walking in the opposite direction. They needed to get further away. Catching the tube further down the line would completely confuse any attempts to track her movements.
"Seriously, Ruby, did he do anything to you?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know… he didn't try to scare you or hurt you or anything?"
"No… he just asked me loads of questions." She wrinkled her nose. "I don't think he likes Dad. Do they know each other?"
"No. Why would you ask that?"
Ruby shrugged, swinging their hands casually as they walked. "He asked if Dad was my real dad. I said of course he was."
"Good girl."
"Is he really my uncle?"
Katy scowled at the pavement. "You know I told you that Tyler was the only dad you needed? I meant it, Rubes, OK?"
"OK."
They continued along the road for a while, Katy resolutely ignoring the buzzing of her mobile in her pocket. The money in her bag was weighing heavily on her and she still felt sick. She knew there was a lot to deal with, but she needed to get Ruby home safely and deal with the questions that would be thrown at her first.
Finally they reached a tube station, four stops along the route from the one she'd got off at earlier. Ruby hadn't complained or asked any questions, blindly trusting whatever her mother was doing. Katy smiled at her, before motioning her head to the corner shop and asking whether she wanted some sweets. The blinding smile she received in response melted all of her worries on the spot.
"If Gramps and Uncle Phil are gonna be cross, what are you gonna say to them?" Ruby asked suddenly.
Katy glanced at her, watching as she swung her legs and picked at the tube seat absentmindedly. "Don't you worry about that, sweetie."
"Why was he shouting?"
"Who?"
"That man… Dean?"
"Oh… it was nothing, angel." Katy shrugged, smiling at her quickly. "He doesn't like Gramps or Uncle Phil and I told him they weren't happy, that's all."
"So… you're OK?"
"Of course I am," Her mother laughed weakly, prodding her nose gently and wrapping an arm around her, "especially now I've got you back."
"Why is your shirt done up wrong?"
Glancing down, Katy swore under her breath and hastily redid the buttons. "I'm so silly sometimes."
Ruby laughed, much to her mother's relief. "You're a silly goose."
"I am."
As they neared Albert Square, Katy felt her tension lifting. It returned with full force as they stepped out of the station and turned to walk towards home. They had barely made it under the bridge before Jack spotted them. He broke into a run, scooping Ruby into his arms and hugging her tightly until she wiggled in protest.
"What happened?" He demanded, narrowing his eyes as he glared at his daughter.
"Nothing." She replied evenly. "Rubes is home, where she belongs. That's the end of it."
"Katy–"
"I need to get her home."
"You need to tell me–"
"Dad, not now."
Grasping Ruby's hand tightly in hers, she pushed past him and headed for home. Her daughter looked behind them, watching Jack just standing and watching them walk away. She furrowed her eyebrows thoughtfully but, seeing Katy staring resolutely ahead of her, she said nothing.
Glenda was overjoyed to see her great-granddaughter when Katy let them into the flat. She immediately started fussing over the seven-year-old; offering her drinks and snacks and asking whether she wanted to choose something to watch on the television. Katy rolled her eyes fondly but said nothing, allowing the older woman to indulge herself and thoroughly spoil her eldest daughter.
"Should I ask?" Glenda hissed when the children were distracted.
Katy turned her head and looked at her thoughtfully. She was leaning against the kitchen counters, hands wrapped around her mug as she stared sightlessly ahead of her. At her grandmother's words, she seemed to be considering something, but apparently decided against it. Instead she just shrugged.
"No."
"Is Ruby alright?"
"Yes. She wasn't at all fazed."
"And are you OK?"
"I'm fine."
"Katy?"
"Honestly, Gran, I'm absolutely fine."
"Right… and the shirt?"
Glancing down, Katy realised that the top few buttons of her shirt – the ones that had come loose when Dean had pawed at them – had fallen open and revealed the ripped lace beneath. She set her jaw, raising her eyes and meeting Glenda's resolutely.
"It's nothing."
"I'm just concerned for you, my darling." Glenda told her softly, reaching out and tucking a strand of blonde hair behind the younger woman's ear. "I'm worried about you and what's happening… what's happened…"
"I told you, I'm fine and it's nothing."
"Please don't shut me out." Glenda requested. "You wouldn't shut your mother out."
"Veronica's not here, is she?" Katy pointed out harshly. "Just… don't ask questions, OK, Gran? I don't want you involved… for your own good."
Putting the mug down, harder than she'd intended, Katy stalked out of the kitchen. She smiled at the children as she strode through the living room and out into the hallway, only pausing briefly to grab her jacket before leaving the flat. On the doorstep she closed her eyes tightly and took several steadying breaths, before biting the bullet and selecting a number from her contact list.
"I need your help."