part 10

Dick sat back and sighed deeply, now that he'd finally managed to get both the archers to stopping yelling at each other, he just needed to get them to start talking again. Roy had disappeared into his bedroom after Dick suggested that yelling in front of Sam might not be the best thing to do, and Ollie sat on the sofa looking pissed off.

"You know, you really ought to check things out a bit before jumping to conclusions." Dick said mildly.

"What other friggin conclusion is there to jump to...I mean the kid called him Dad for crying out loud!" Ollie snapped.

"It's not his kid." Dick replied.

Ollie looked at him.."You expect me to believe he's just babysitting some kid that calls him Dad?...Look at this place." Ollie said indicating the high chair in the kitchen and play pen in the living room.

"No..he's not babysitting, Sam lives here." Dick said.

Ollie looked puzzled, but the anger in his eye's had faded slightly.."What? He adopted the kid or something?"

"No..no..Look, I've said more than I should, it's up to Roy to tell you the rest himself..Just do me a favour, you mightn't like what he tells you but just try and keep calm...he really needs support right now, there's a lot gone down in his life over the last few months, some of it will come as a shock..well it did for me anyway...Just listen to him without losing it will ya?" Dick asked.

Ollie ran a hand through his hair..."Ok kid...I'm gonna try but I can't guarentee it. Roy has a penchant for dropping bombshells, and I get the feeling this is gonna be one of those times." he sighed, before continuing."Guess nothing can be as bad as finding out he was an addict though." he added.

"Yeah well if you keep that in mind, then everything else will seem minor in comparison." Dick replied, hopeing the older man would remember that piece of advice.

Roy walked out of his room, Sam now asleep in his arms and disappeared into Lian's room to put the toddler in his crib, before returning to the living room and quietly closing the door.

"Coffee all round?" Dick asked, heading for the kitchen as the other two men nodded their agreement.

Ollie finally took the time to look at Roy, taking in his haggard appearance. 'You look like hell kid." he said, softly.

Roy nodded and walked over to sit in the armchair facing Ollie.."Starting to feel like hell too." he mumbled..the lack of sleep finally beginning to get through to him.

"Eat!" Dick called from the kitchen.

Roy reached over and picked up a fork and a carton of food... Sighing, he leaned back in the chair. "I don't know where to start." he said.

Ollie accepted the coffee Dick held out to him. "From the beginning..that's always the best place to start Kiddo." he replied.

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The door opened, and she stiffened, preparing for the worst. His footsteps came closer and she braced herself, not knowing what he intended to do. He grabbed at her hair and pulled her over to him...And began to take off the blind fold he had tied tightly over her eye's, the fabric dropped to the ground, and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision. Then surprisingly he began to untie her wrists...She rubbed them hard, trying to get the circulation going again.

"Don't fucken try anything or I'll kill you..you know I will." he growled menacingly, before throwing some clothes at her. "Get dressed." he ordered.

Shaking, she complied with his orders, she knew she couldn't fight him, he was much stronger than she was and the lack of food or water in the last couple of days combined with repeated beatings had left her too weak to even try.

"W..where are you taking me?" she whispered hoarsley.

"Home...Once we get there you'll tell me where he is." he stated.

She knew he wasn't talking about taking her home to Roy...he didn't know where she had lived, he didn't know about Roy, and she had to keep it that way.

She finished dressing and he moved towards her, picking up the blindfold and tieing it back over her eye's, before shoving her on to the ground and putting his knee in her back as he tied her hands again.

Dragging her to her feet he pulled her out the door.

She stumbled along, trying desperately to stay upright as he dragged he along.

Soon she heard another door open, and then, another sound, a popping noise she recognized it as the trunk of a car being opened. Her shoved her roughly causing her to fall forward, half into the trunk, then grabbed her legs and forced her the rest of the way into the vehicle before slamming the trunk closed.

Alone in the darkness she began to shake uncontrollably. The car started and began to move. She felt her tears threaten but she refused to cry...not anymore, whatever lay ahead she would face it with as much dignity as she could muster, he had invaded her life, her body, he had beaten and abused her, he had taken away the peace and security she had in her life..but he would not take away her pride.

end 10