Chapter 2.

Jack lugged the two suitcases into the living room, placing them in front of Alf's feet, without saying a word. He leant against the sofa with his hands in his pockets.

"You want me to load them into the boot?" Jack offered. Alf looked confused.

"I came to sort them out with you, mate." Jack's gaze shifted from the suitcases to Alf's face.

"I..I can't." He stuttered. "I'm not ready, I can't do this, I can't shift through her stuff knowing that she won't be back to reclaim it." Jack lifted a hand out of his pocket to rub his face. He took a loud breath in, looking up to the ceiling away from Alf's stare, then returned his hand to his pocket. Alf stood there for a moment.

"Jack, I know how you feel, Martha was a great girl, and she will be sorely missed, by everyone. I know how she felt about you, she'd have wanted you to do this, she trusted you and you'll know more than me on which stuff can go, and which can stay. She felt real strongly for you Jack, she'd often ask about you." Alf said reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a wad of envelopes and handed them to Jack. "I know she wouldn't have minded you reading them." Alf smiled. Jack took the envelopes.

"Thankyou.." He said, looking through them, he put them on the side. "Come on, these aren't going to unpack themselves." He forced a smile as he knelt beside the suitcase and gestured Alf to sit down. Alf chuckled to himself quietly, as he watched Jack open the first suitcase. He knew that Jack really loved Martha, Tony had told him how bad he had taken it. He watched Jack open the lid and take a sigh before slowly taking some of Martha's possessions out of the case. Alf knew that Jack didn't want to look in the suitcase, because it would just add to the pain, but Alf admired him for helping out, and could really see what his granddaughter saw in him.

It took them about two hours to sort out both cases, this was because Jack had occasionally picked up a top, or another piece of clothing that reminded him of their good times together. As they went through the case, both men tried to stay brave, but often had to "go to the toilet" to have a bit of a think. Alf offered to take the clothes to a charity, but Jack insisted that he could take care of that, so the next thing was items. There weren't many items, just some framed photos of Alf, Ric, Tasha and Robbie, and two books. Jack immediately recognized the first; it was the photo album. He opened to the last pages, the section with him and Martha. He looked through them, smiling at the pictures, but he wasn't feeling too sad, he wasn't feeling as bad as he had done, he was feeling quite happy actually, reliving the memories. Alf was pleased that Jack could smile at the memories of Martha, he placed his hand on Jack's shoulder.

"It's yours." He winked. Jack thanked him as he placed it on top of the clothes, and then looked down onto his lap, to see the second book. He opened it slowly. 'Dear Diary..' Jack slammed the book shut, feeling guilty. Alf looked at him, bemused.

"What was in there?" He said, taking the book from him. "Ohh, her diary!" He laughed, flicking through the pages. Jack looked at him in shock.

"Do you really think you should be reading that?" Jack asked. Alf chuckled at him.

"You're right." He handed the diary to Jack. "She wouldn't mind if you read it, but I'm not sure about her old granddad." Jack slowly retrieved the diary from Alf's outstretched hand.

"Erm, I'm not sure. I know that Lucas never liked me to go anywhere near his journal.." Jack said.

"Martha wouldn't have minded, honest. Anyway, I expect there'll be some truths in there that I'm sure you'd like to know, some things that you may not have had chance to discuss." Jack nodded, understandingly. Alf was right, they hadn't had any chance to talk about what had happened, it would be nice to know what she was thinking in her head. His trail of thought was distracted when Alf let out a big sigh.

"Well, now we've got that out of the way, I'd like to invite you to Noah's later, for about 6. I've asked some of Martha's close friends to come, and we can organise something for her, a tribute of some kind, seen as though we don't have a wedding we can't have a proper funeral, but I think that the lass deserves something."

"Of course." Jack said, he'd got a huge confidence boost after looking through the pictures, he was finally coming to terms with it, it was hard and upsetting, but it was slowly getting better, he was coping. After that, Alf took the suitcases home, filled with some of Martha's possessions. Jack rested the pile of Martha's clothes on the end of his bed, laying on top was the photo album and the journal. He stared at the journal, his fingers itching with curiosity. He looked at his watch. 'Shower.' He thought, he dragged his eyes away from the journal and headed to the shower.

Meanwhile, Martha was still freaking out about her new home. It was like a totally different house from what she'd been in before she had been pushed through the door. The walls were white, there was barely any furniture in the room, apart from a few white beanbags, and a table and chair set in the corner, all white. There were no windows in the room, and the carpet was white too. The bright white almost blinded her as she scanned the room, looking for a way out. She soon realised that the only way out, was the way in. She started frantically banging her fists against the cold metal door.

"Please! Let me out! I need to help Jack!" She turned around, crying, and hit her back against the door, sliding down into a ball on the floor. She thought about Jack, how she wished that she were with him, he'd be able to help her, or at least make her feel safe. But he wasn't, he was never going to be able to help her again, he would never hold her to make her feel safe, nor would he ever again make her smile. She laid down, crying and whimpered "Sorry Jack.."